Ji Short Sword

Basic information

Designation

Treasure No.784

Category

Painting

Era

고려시대 14세기

Designated year

1984

Location

용산구, 서울특별시— 서울 용산구 이태원로55길 60-16, 삼성미술관 리움 (한남동)

Coordinates

37.536528, 126.996187

Ksitigarbha Buddha is a Bodhisattva who gives up being a Buddha himself and stays around hell to rescue people from the tortures thereof and lead them to paradise. So in the pictures, there are always the defense god of Buddhism and the judge who keeps the gate of hell. In this one, Ksitigarbha Buddha is standing in the center and four others are surrounding him on each side. The eight figures are smaller and placed little bit lower than the Buddha. It is a typical two-story structure of the Goryeo Era. Two Bodhisattvas called Jeseok and Beomcheon appeared frequently up to the time of the Joseon Dynasty as Buddhist Bodhisattva. Ksitigarbha Buddha is wearing a hempen hood, a brilliant cintamani and a decorative necklace. He is raising one hand to shoulder height and holding a transparent magic stone in the other. Every figure has a mandorla but Ksitigarbha Buddha in particular has a double mandorla, which is a special characteristic of this picture. The picture has a somewhat heavy tone compared with other Buddhist paintings but it is regarded as an excellent work because of its soft and delicate touch and sophisticated coloring.

Location