Suguksa Mokjoamitayeoraejwasang Mit Reliquary Objects, Seoul

Basic information

Designation

Treasure No.1580

Category

Sculpture

Designated year

2008

Location

은평구, 서울특별시— 서울 은평구 서오릉로23길 8-5, 수국사 (구산동)

Coordinates

37.615883, 126.905073

When Crown Prince Uigyeong (1438-1457), the eldest son of King Sejo, died prematurely at age 20, he was posthumously honored as King Deokjong and a Buddhist temple named Jeonginsa was built in 1459 near the prince’s grave to pray for his soul. The temple was rebuilt later at the present location and renamed Suguksa, meaning the “Temple of Protecting the Country,” to serve as a tutelary temple for the royal family. As there is no inscription or invocation, it is not known exactly when the Amitabha image was created. But the Buddha’s dignified face and robust body and the double robes with unique and natural folds show stylistic resemblance to Buddhist images produced in the 13th to the early 14th centuries. In particular, the noble and masculine face, the narrow folds in the robe flowing down along the sides of the shoulders, and the simple and unadorned inner garment are all reminiscent of several other images dated mid- to late 13th century, including the Seated Amitabha of Gaesimsa Temple in Seosan, which was repaired in 1280; another Seated Amitabha at Gaeunsa Temple in Seoul, dated around 1274; and Dry-lacquered Seated Amitabha of Simhyangsa Temple in Naju, designated Treasure No. 1544. Notably, this icon’s dignified masculinity stands for a new aesthetic tendency which differs from the graceful elegance characterizing most Buddhist sculptures of the late Goryeo Dynasty.

Location