The National Museum of Korea presents its thematic exhibition, entitled “Buddhist Hanging Scroll at Bukjangsa Temple: The Buddha listens to prayers” around the Buddha’s Birthday in 2016. The 11th display is part of the regular series that have shed light on the large Buddhist hanging paintings, Gwaebul, featured in the National Museum of Korea since 2006. This Buddhist painting is one of the largest over 13 meters in height that was used for Buddhist rituals as well as “Ritual Ceremony to Pray for Rain (기우제, 祈雨祭).” Along with this hanging scroll, we showcase various other Buddhist paintings that depict scenes of answering the prayers, in the Buddhist Painting Room. We hope the exhibition could offer an opportunity to appreciate the Buddhist Hanging Scroll at Bukjangsa Temple and Buddhist paintings.

Ⅰ. History of  Bukjangsa Temple

Located on the hills of Mt. Noeumsan in Namjang-dong, Sangju in Gyeongsangbuk-do Province are the thousand-year-old Buddhist temples of Namjangsa and Bukjangsa. Mt. Noeumsan where Bukjangsa Temple is situated on its western side is also given a byname after the temple. There is a cave on the summit of the mountain, and the stone pillars that have been naturally formed inside the cave are said to appear as if they are propping up the sky, therefore earning the byname of Mt. Cheonjusan (“cheonju” meaning pillar supporting the heavens). Bukjangsa Temple was formerly Jangbaeksa Temple established by National Master (Jingam Guksa) Hyeso (774-850) during the Silla period. The temple was, however, established in full scale in the late-Joseon Dynasty. Further, following the Japanese Invasions of Korea (1592-98) and the Manchu Invasion of Korea(1636), the temple was reconstructed from 1624, and major Buddhist halls, sculptures and paintings were produced in the seventeenth century. It was at this time that the main hall, Geungnakbojeon Hall, was erected; the main sculpture, the Seated Amitabha Triad (1676), was enshrined; and the Buddhist Hanging Scroll of the Assembly at Vulture Peak at Bukjangsa Temple (1688) was created. Both big and small reconstructions followed afterwards, yet most of the extant constructions in the temple have been recently built from the late twentieth century. A number of Buddhist cultural properties including the Buddhist Hanging Scroll of 1688 evoke reminiscences of the ancient Bukjangsa Temple.

 

Ⅱ. Iconography of Buddhist Hanging Scroll at Bukjangsa Temple

The Buddhist Hanging Scroll at Bukjangsa Temple features a monumental Buddha that fills the center of the painting together with bodhisattvas, celestial beings, and disciples to his sides. Generally, paintings depicting the assembly at Vulture Peak feature Śākyamuni preaching while seated on a pedestal; however, this painting features Śākyamuni in a standing posture. The posture of Buddha reflects a change in accordance with the function of the hanging scroll in which it is used for outdoor rituals. In other words, Buddha has been depicted to be in a standing posture to fit the scroll, which has been elongated to further highlight Buddha to those attending the ceremony, as the central figure of worship. Such postural change was first observed in the hanging scroll at Bukjangsa Temple and was later widely used as the iconography of hanging scrolls based on the same theme throughout Gyeongsangbuk-do Province.

The Buddha in the center is depicted with a halo encircled with a flame design behind it, thus standing out as a figure of dignity and absolute power. The other figures including bodhisattvas and celestial beings attending the assembly are very small in size compared to the Buddha, and the disciplines in the upper part of the painting decrease in size towards the top. The composition is marked by a large depiction of a central figure of great importance, yet showing consideration for the overall sense of space.

 

Ⅲ. Background to the Production of the Buddhist Hanging Scroll at Bukjangsa Temple According to Records

The Buddhist Hanging Scroll of 1688 is comprised of 23 strips of hemp cloth with a width of approximately 30 centimeters. Records show the names of many Buddhists and monks including the donors who helped with acquiring the background cloth for the hanging scroll, coloring, installing the rings for hanging the scroll, and presenting offerings. They also feature names of the monks who both directly and indirectly supported the production of the hanging scroll. The Buddhist Hanging Scroll was produced with the help of a total of 174 people, comprising 90 monks and 84 laypersons. This particular painting was not only utilized in Buddhist rituals including Yeongsanjae (reenactment of the Buddha’s teachings at Vulture Peak) and Suryukjae (ceremony for desolate, wandering spirits in the water and on land) but also in rituals for rain when the region of Sangju suffered from long periods of extreme drought. The Buddhist Hanging Scroll at Bukjangsa Temple featuring a grand-size Buddha reflects the faith of our ancestors who longed for miracles.