Gohung Neunggasa Wooden Seated Shakyamuni Triad and 16 Arhat Statues Confirmed as National Treasures

High Academic Value in Iconography Sparks Great Interest in Scholarly Community

[Goheung=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Shim Jeong-woo] Goheung-gun, Jeollanam-do (Governor Song Gwi-geun) announced that the ‘Goheung Neunggasa Wooden Seokga Yeorae Samjon Statue and 16 Arhat Statues Set’ was designated as a national treasure on October 25, 2021.

The ‘Goheung Neunggasa Wooden Seokga Yeorae Samjon Statue and 16 Arhat Statues Set,’ which was announced as a candidate for national treasure designation on August 31, has been designated as Treasure No. 2137.

The designated items include 23 wooden Buddha statues enshrined in Neunggasa Eungjindang in Jeomam-myeon, Goheung-gun, 3 Buddha statue pedestals, 18 vow documents currently entrusted and stored at the Suncheon Songgwangsa Seongbo Museum, and 20 reliquary containers.

Goheung Neunggasa is said to have been originally established as Bohyeonsa, which was destroyed during the Japanese invasions of Korea (Imjin War), and was rebuilt and renamed Neunggasa by Monk Byeokcheon in the mid-17th century.

The wooden Seokga Yeorae Samjon Buddha and 16 Arhat statues enshrined in Neunggasa Eungjindang are late Joseon Dynasty Buddhist statues created in 1685 by sculptor monk Saeknan and Monk Doheon, among others. The designation of these statues was initiated during the treasure designation review process for the seated Jizang Bosal statue and the Ten Kings statues and their attendants held at Deokrimsa in Gwangju, which were being considered for upgrade to treasure status. It was suggested that a comparative review of works by the same artist was necessary, leading to a full investigation.

The Goheung Neunggasa Wooden Seokga Yeorae Samjon Statue and 16 Arhat Statues Set was created in June 1685, as confirmed by the vow documents found in the reliquary (bokjang). The vow was made by the Neunggasa monk Sanggi from Palyoung Mountain, Heungyang-hyeon, Jeollado, and Saeknan, as the chief sculptor monk, led the work together with his colleagues and disciples.

Goheung Neunggasa was Saeknan’s main temple and base of activity. The Seokga Yeorae Samjon Statue and 16 Arhat statues in Eungjindang hold significant importance as works left behind from a large-scale Buddhist project he conducted during his long stay at this temple. Sculptor monk Saeknan actively participated in various Buddhist projects at Neunggasa, including sponsoring the temple bell in 1698, sponsoring the publication of the Seonmun Yeomsong Seolhwa (Zen Gate Chanting and Stories) in 1707, and sponsoring roof tiles in 1730.

The Goheung Neunggasa Seokga Yeorae Samjon Statue and 16 Arhat Statues are academically valuable due to their rare iconographic composition for Eungjindang statues. The triad consists of Shakyamuni Buddha, Maitreya Bodhisattva, and Bhaisajyaguru Bodhisattva, and the six great Bodhisattvas include Manjusri, Samantabhadra, Ananda, and Kassapa, forming a unique arrangement.

This iconography is notable in the history of sculpture as it originated from the 1624 statues at Suncheon Songgwangsa Eungjinjeon and later became widely popular in the Honam region through Saeknan’s influence.

With the designation of the Goheung Neunggasa Wooden Seokga Yeorae Samjon Statue and 16 Arhat Statues as a treasure, Goheung’s Buddhist cultural heritage has gained greater attention.

A county official stated, “A thorough investigation of Goheung’s Buddhist heritage will gain momentum for applications for national and provincial cultural property designations. We also expect increased academic interest in undesignated cultural properties such as Neunggasa, Geumtapsa, Songgwangam, and Seongbulsa.”

Goheung=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Shim Jeong-woo sevenshim@asiae.co.kr

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