Investigation Site Realistically Reproducing Heerang Daesa to Become National Treasure

Hapcheon Haeinsa Geonchil Heerang Daesajang National Treasure Designation Notice
"The Only Remaining Wooden Seated Buddha with Both Historical Records and Existing Work"
"Artistic Value Outstanding, Expressing Inner Character"

Haeinsa Temple, Hapcheon - Ganchil Heerang Daesa Seojang

The Ganchil Heirang Daesa Seated Statue (陜川 海印寺 乾漆希朗大師坐像·Treasure No. 999) at Haeinsa Temple in Hapcheon, sculpted in the likeness of a revered monk from the Goryeo period, will be elevated to the status of a National Treasure. The Cultural Heritage Administration announced on the 2nd that it plans to designate this cultural asset as a National Treasure. The statue depicts Heirang Daesa (希朗大師), a monk active from the late Silla to early Goryeo period. It is estimated to have been created in the early 10th century.

According to the 'Yugayagi (游加耶記)' written by the Joseon scholar Yu Cheok-gi, Heirang Daesa was a learned monk deeply versed in Huayan Buddhism (華嚴學). He resided at Hwarangdae Hall of Haeinsa Temple, dedicating himself to ascetic practice, and aided King Taejo Wang Geon in unifying the Later Three Kingdoms. In gratitude, Wang Geon granted land necessary for the reconstruction of Haeinsa Temple and entrusted important Goryeo documents to be stored there.

Hapcheon Haeinsa Temple Gunchil Heerang Daesa Seojang

During a similar period, many statues of revered monks were produced in China and Japan. However, in Korea, the Ganchil Heirang Daesa Seated Statue is unique. The front carvings of the face, chest, hands, and knees are made using the ganchil (乾漆) technique, which involves applying lacquer multiple times over a clay core to build up the form. This method requires considerable time and meticulous effort to complete. The back and base are constructed by assembling wood. The Cultural Heritage Administration explained, “The combined front and back form is found in Buddhist sculptures from the late Silla to early Goryeo periods,” citing the 'Bonghwa Cheongnyangsa Ganchil Yaksa Yeorae Seated Statue (Treasure No. 1919)' as a representative example.

The Ganchil Heirang Daesa Seated Statue is praised for its realistic depiction, with natural contours of the body and skin. Its modest life-size proportions, gentle gaze, faintly smiling lips, and the skeletal structure visible beneath aged skin vividly evoke the living image of Heirang Daesa. Another distinctive feature is the 'chung-hyeol-guk-in (胸穴國人; person with a hole in the chest)'. There is a hole measuring 0.5 cm in width and 3.5 cm in length in the chest area.

Hapcheon Haeinsa Temple Gunchil Heerang Daesa Seojang

The Cultural Heritage Administration stated, “According to Haeinsa Temple lore, Heirang Daesa pierced a small hole in his chest to offer blood as a form of donation to support the ascetic practices of other monks.” However, it also explained, “The chest hole or the jeong-hyeol (頂穴; hole on the crown of the head) of revered monks usually symbolizes supernatural power. This feature is also found in the 'Seoul Seunggasa Stone Seungga Daesa Seated Statue (Treasure No. 1000).'” It added, “This is the only documented and extant statue of a monk in Korea with both literary records and surviving works. Its original form is well preserved, and its realistic representation expresses the inner character, making its artistic value outstanding.”

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