Donghwasa Samyeongdang Yujeong Jinyeong, Daegu

Basic information

Designation

Treasure No.1505

Category

Painting

Era

1796년 하한

Designated year

2006

Location

동구, 대구광역시— 대구광역시 동구 동화사1길 1 (도학동, 동화사)

Coordinates

35.993304, 128.703690

Buddhist Monk Yujeong (1544-1610), also known as Samyeongdang, led a righteous army against Japanese invaders during the Japanese Invasion in the late 16th century. After the war he negotiated a peace treaty with the Japanese shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu as a royal emissary and secured the repatriation of 3,500 Joseon prisoners of war. This portrait, regarded as the best among some dozen portraits of the renowned monk handed down in Korea today, well represents his powerful and dignified character. His face, rendered with the outlining technique, looks gentle but his eyes betray the shrewdness with which he led many battles as a commander of monk army. The robust torso and long beard also stand for his gallantry. The monk is seated cross-legged on a chair with a tall back, in a three-quarter view from left, holding a whisk in his right hand, which is placed on his knees. The elegant grayish-white robe is described with simple outlines in contrast with the gorgeous red shawl with elaborate patterns. At lower left is a colophon with the zodiac date, Byeongjin Year, which indicates the portrait was painted in 1796 at the latest.

Location