Songgwangsa Mokjoseokgayeoraesamjonsang Mit Sojo16nahansang (Collection), Suncheon

Basic information

Designation

Treasure No.1549

Category

Sculpture

Era

1624년

Designated year

2008

Location

순천시, 전라남도— 전라남도 순천시 송광사안길 100 (송광면, 송광사) 응진전

Coordinates

35.002169, 127.275655

A total of 27 Buddhas are enshrined at Eungjindang, one of the oldest worship halls at Songgwangsa Temple. They include a Wooden Sakyamuni Buddha Triad and Clay Sixteen Arhats, as well as other figures such as Ananda, Kasyapa, Indra, Brahma, Vajrapani and a messenger of the underworld. Except for a Maitreya image, the rest of the 26 figures were made in 1624 (the second year of King Injo’s reign), by sculptor monks who were active in the Jeolla-do Region in the 17th century, according to an inscription on the pedestal for the messenger of the underworld. The Sakyamuni Triad consists of the Buddhas of the Three Ages, that is, Sakyamuni, the historical Buddha; Maitreya, the Future Buddha; and Dipamkara, or the Lamp Bearer, one of the Buddhas of the past. These Three Buddhas comprised the typical Sakyamuni Triad symbolic of assuring enlightenment from the Joseon Dynasty. The Sakyamuni Statue, reminiscent of a 15th century gilt-bronze image in a portable shrine discovered at Sujongsa Temple, exudes a sense of stability from its gentle face and smooth voluminous body, inheriting the early Joseon sculpture style. It displays relatively superior carving technique for a 17th-century work. The Clay Arhats, made with wooden cores, are highly valuable as the only complete set of 16 figures of the historic Buddha’s disciples handed down from the Goryeo to early Joseon Dynasty.

Location