'Baekyangsa Wooden Amitabha Statue' Created by Monk Hyeonjin to Become a Treasure

15th Century Artifact Presumed 'Sangju Namjangsa Gwaneum Seonwon Wooden Seated Gwaneum Bosal Statue' Also Announced for Treasure Designation

Jangseong Baekyangsa Wooden Seated Amitabha Buddha Statue

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jong-gil] The wooden Amitabha Buddha statue at Baekyangsa Temple in Jangseong, standing over 2 meters tall, will be designated as a national treasure. The Cultural Heritage Administration announced on the 29th that it plans to designate the wooden Amitabha Buddha statue at Baekyangsa Temple in Jangseong, the earliest work created by the 17th-century sculptor monk Hyeonjin (玄眞), and the wooden Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva statue at Namjangsa Temple’s Gwaneum Seonwon in Sangju, estimated to be a 15th-century artifact, as treasures.

The wooden Amitabha Buddha statue at Baekyangsa Temple is a Buddhist statue made by shaping the overall outline with wood and expressing wrinkles and flesh with clay. The wood was carved to form the overall shape, and clay was applied to give a three-dimensional and realistic feel. Hyeonjin created it along with Hyuil and Munseup. Hyeonjin played a leading role in restoring Buddhist statues lost during the Imjin War. In particular, he supervised the production of the 11 Buddha statues at Jasus Temple and Insu Temple, commissioned by Queen Gwanghaegun. His representative works include the wooden Amitabha Buddha statue at Wolmyeongam Hermitage in Jinju (Treasure No. 1686), the wooden Vairocana Buddha statue at Jijangam Hermitage in Seoul (Treasure No. 1621), and the wooden Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva and Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva statues at Cheoneunsa Temple in Gurye (Treasure No. 1889).

According to the ink inscription (墨書) beneath the pedestal of the statue, the wooden Amitabha Buddha statue at Baekyangsa Temple was created to pray for the repose of the previous king and queen and for their enlightenment. It reaches a height of 208 cm. Its grand scale, long waist, rounded face, dignified shoulders, naturally rendered clothing folds, and stable posture demonstrate excellent sculpting skills and reveal a new trend in 17th-century Buddhist sculpture.

Sangju Namjangsa Gwaneum Seonwon Wooden Seated Gwaneum Bosal Statue

The wooden Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva statue, also announced for treasure designation, is enshrined at Gwaneum Seonwon, an affiliated temple of Namjangsa Temple. Originally, it was located at Sangryeonam Hermitage on nearby Cheonjusang Mountain but was moved to Gwaneum Seonwon in 1819. This site also houses the wooden Amitabha Buddha preaching statue (Treasure No. 923). Although the exact production date is unknown, the noble style, neat face, and the wrinkles on the shoulders, feet, elbows, and knees reflect characteristics of 15th-century Buddhist statues.

The Cultural Heritage Administration will collect opinions from various sectors for one month and finalize the treasure designation after review by the Cultural Heritage Committee.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.