Heungcheonsa Geumdongcheonsugwaneumbosal Seated Figure, Seoul

Basic information

Designation

Treasure No.1891

Category

Sculpture

Era

고려～조선 초

Designated year

2016

Location

성북구, 서울특별시— 서울특별시 성북구 흥천사길 29 (돈암동, 흥천사)

Coordinates

37.595800, 126.990700Museum-based location

This gilt-bronze statue of Avalokitesvara enshrined in Heungcheonsa Temple, Seoul is a rare example of a bodhisattva with forty-two arms. No one knows exactly when the statue was made, but a name plaque, ""Samgaksan Heungcheonsa sasibisu gwanseeumbosal bullyang siju (Offering Food to Avalokitesvara with Forty-two Arms in Heungcheonsa Temple of Samgaksan Mountain)"" at the temple dated 1894 suggests that it was enshrined there sometime before that year. The details of the statue, including the proportions of the face and body, beaded adornments and slim waist, show that it was made between late Goryeo (918-1392) and early Joseon (1392-1910). With very few examples remaining, this particular statue is regarded as a very valuable source of information about the thousand-armed Avalokitesvara statues made in the period of transition from the Goryeo to the Joseon Dynasty.

Location