Buddhist Painting of Songgwangsa Temple, Suncheon (Illustration of the Avatamsaka Sutra)

Basic information

Designation

National Treasure No.314

Category

Painting

Era

조선 영조 46년(1770)

Designated year

2009

Location

순천시, 전라남도— 전남 순천시 송광면 송광사안길 100, 송광사 (신평리)

Coordinates

35.002169, 127.275655

The colored painting is about the Seven Locations and Nine Assemblies stated in Avatamsaka Sutra (The Flower Garland Sutra) made on silk fabric. Overall, it is well-balanced symmetrically with a well-set composition. It uses red, green, and gold colors on mud-yellow ground, showing a trend toward the use of brighter, more gorgeous colors in the Buddhist paintings of the 18th century. The lower part of the painting contains the image of Samantabhadra explaining the world of the universal lotus flower, which is Vairocana Buddha’s pure land to ordinary people. According to records, a group of 12 monk painters, including Hwaryeon, made this painting in 1770 (46th year of the reign of King Yeongjo of Joseon) at Ansimsa Temple in Mudeungsan Mountain but was later relocated to its current location. A valuable object, it is the earliest existing one among the illustrations of Avatamsaka Sutra, faithfully depicting the Seven Locations and Nine Assemblies stated in Avatamsaka Sutra.

Location