Two Items Including 'Mangyeongsa Stone Seated Buddha Statue' Designated as Goyang Local Cultural Assets

Published 16 Dec.2020 09:59(KST)

'Anso Gong Lee Hun and Biin Hyunju Lee's Tombstone' Designated as Goyang-si Local Cultural Asset No. 69

[Asia Economy Reporter Ra Young-cheol] Goyang City in Gyeonggi Province has newly designated the 'Goyang Mangyeongsa Stone Seated Buddha Statue' and the 'Goyang Anso Gong Lee Hun and Biin Hyeonju Lee Clan Tombstone' as Goyang City Local Cultural Properties.

According to the city on the 16th, these two cultural assets are regarded as important materials for the study of Buddhist sculpture history and aristocratic tomb customs during the Joseon Dynasty.

Designated as Goyang City Local Cultural Property No. 68, the 'Goyang Mangyeongsa Stone Seated Buddha Statue (高陽萬景寺石造如來坐像)' is a work located at Mangyeongsa Temple, a historic temple within Gobongsan Mountain.

Goyang City Local Cultural Property No. 68, Manggyeongsa Stone Seated Buddha Statue [Provided by Goyang City]

Mangyeongsa Temple is known to have been founded as the clan’s prayer hall by the Joseon Dynasty official Modang Hong Isang (洪履祥, 1549-1615) during the reign of King Seonjo, to pray for the rebirth of his ancestors in the Pure Land.

The 'Goyang Mangyeongsa Stone Seated Buddha Statue' is a small-sized statue with a height of 37.5 cm and a knee width of 27 cm, made of Gyeongju Buseok, a material frequently used for Buddhist statues in the late Joseon period.

Currently, there are no relics inside the statue to determine its exact production date, but it is evaluated to be similar to works made in the mid to late 19th century, such as the Yangju Simgoksa Stone Seated Buddha Statue from 1887 and the 19th-century Yangju Cheongryeonsa Stone Seated Buddha Statue.

This work has been designated as a local cultural property in recognition of its historical value as a rare 19th-century Gyeongju Buseok Buddha statue even within Gyeonggi Province outside of Goyang City.

Newly designated as Goyang City Local Cultural Property No. 69, the 'Goyang Anso Gong Lee Hun and Biin Hyeonju Lee Clan Tombstone (高陽安昭公李塤 및 庇仁縣主李氏墓碑)' is a couple’s tombstone located at the Hansan Lee Clan Inwoldang Jonghoe Shrine.

The husband Anso Gong Lee Hun’s tombstone stands at a total height of 192 cm and was erected in 1482, while the wife Biin Hyeonju Lee’s tombstone is 163.5 cm tall and was built in 1516.

Goyang City Local Cultural Asset No. 69_Anso Gong Lee Hun and Bi In Hyeonju Lee's Tombstone [Provided by Goyang City]

The husband Anso Gong Lee Hun (李塤, 1429-1481) is known as a representative civil official of the early Joseon period. His clan origin is Hansan (韓山), his courtesy name is Hwabak (和伯), his pen name is Injae (麟齋), and his posthumous title is Anso (安昭).

After entering government service in 1439 (the 21st year of King Sejong), he held various posts during King Sejo’s reign, including Gongjo Chamui (工曹參議), Hyeongjo Chamui (刑曹參議), and Hanseong Panyun (漢城判尹). In 1471 (the 2nd year of King Seongjong), he was also ennobled as Hanseong Gun (韓城君) by royal decree.

The wife Biin Hyeonju Lee (李氏, 1427-1514) was a royal family member of the early Joseon period, the only daughter of Prince Hyoryeong (孝寧大君, 1396-1486), who was King Taejong’s second son and King Sejong’s older brother.

The 'Goyang Anso Gong Lee Hun and Biin Hyeonju Lee Clan Tombstone' is made of blue jade, a material difficult to obtain, and represents a typical early Joseon style.

In particular, the wife’s tombstone is highly valued historically, academically, and locally because, despite being for a woman, it records her biography (haengjang) on the reverse side of the stone (bi-eum, 碑陰).

Including the two newly designated items, the total number of Goyang City Local Cultural Properties now stands at 65. The previously designated 'Goyang Gangmae Stone Bridge' was newly elevated and designated as Gyeonggi Province Tangible Cultural Property No. 362 in August.