Wooden Amitabha Buddha Altarpiece at Daeseungsa Temple, Mungyeong

Basic information

Designation

National Treasure No.321

Category

Sculpture

Era

조선시대(숙종 1)

Designated year

2017

Location

문경시, 경상북도— 경상북도 문경시 대승사길 283 (산북면, 대승사)

Coordinates

36.748201, 128.270650Kakao address conversion

This statue, produced in 1675 and modelled on a painting hung behind the Buddha statue, portrays the paradise of Amitabha. It contains twenty-four images of bodhisattvas, disciples, and heavenly kings symmetrically arranged around the central figure of Amitabha Buddha. Known to be the oldest work of its kind produced in the late Joseon period, it features the plain and popular aesthetic sensibility and the unique upright style of portrayal characteristic of the monk-sculptors Daneung and Takmil, who were active in the late seventeenth century. This pioneering work reflects the features of similar skillfully produced wood-carved images that were based on Buddhist paintings. It is also the largest of the six extant late-Joseon wood-carved images of Amitabha Buddha giving a sermon (including those at Yongmunsa Temple in Yecheon, Namjangsa Temple in Sangju, Gyeongguksa Temple in Seoul, Gwaneumseonwon Hermitage of Namjangsa Temple in Sangju, and Yaksuam hermitage of Silsangsa Temple in Namwon ). It is particularly distinct from other similar works in the portrayal and style of bodhisattvas and the number of images.

Location