Three Taebongdo Paintings Combining Maps and Landscapes Designated as Treasures

Jangjo, Sunjo, and Heonjong Taebongdo Depicting Tae-sil and Surrounding Scenery
'Geonchil Bosal Jwasang' and 'Myo Beop Yeonhwa Gyeong' Also Managed as Treasures

The Joseon royal family, upon the birth of an heir, moved the placenta (胎) outside the palace and enshrined it separately. They selected an auspicious site and buried it to create a placenta chamber (태실). If the owner of the placenta ascended to the throne, the chamber was specially adorned with stone artifacts. This series of processes was recorded in the Uigwe (儀軌, royal protocols). The landscape of the placenta chamber and its surrounding terrain was painted for royal viewing and presented to the royal family. This is called Taebongdo (胎封圖, Placenta Enclosure Map).

On the 26th, the Cultural Heritage Administration designated three Taebongdo as national treasures. These are 'Jangjo Taebongdo (莊祖 胎封圖·1785)', 'Sunjo Taebongdo (純祖 胎封圖·1806)', and 'Heonjong Taebongdo (憲宗 胎封圖·1847)'. The Jangjo Taebongdo depicts the placenta chamber of Crown Prince Sado, the father of King Jeongjo, and its surrounding scenery. The placenta chamber was established behind Myeongbongsa Temple in Yecheon-gun, Gyeongbuk Province, around 1735. In 1785, after Sado was posthumously honored as Jangjo, additional stone artifacts such as railings and stele were installed. The Annals of the Joseon Dynasty recorded it as the 'Gyeongmogung (景慕宮) placenta chamber.' Gyeongmo means deep affection. It suggests how much King Jeongjo missed his father, who lived a tragic life.

The Jangjo Taebongdo applies a landscape painting perspective from a high vantage point looking down. The placenta chamber occupies the center of an oval composition surrounded by many mountain peaks. The lotus-patterned roof stone, octagonal railings, and turtle-shaped pedestal with a stele are each depicted. The method of writing place names, the triangular-shaped mountains lined up, and other map-like expressions stand out.

The Sunjo placenta chamber is located in Naesok-ri, Boeun-gun, Chungbuk Province. In the Taebongdo, it is situated on a round peak on the right side of an S-shaped boundary. The surrounding background is left blank, making it particularly prominent. Below on the left, Beopjusa Temple of Sogrisan Mountain, with several pavilions harmoniously arranged, is depicted. The road is clearly marked with a red line, and dense foliage is expressed through repeated brush strokes, showing a blend of map and landscape painting characteristics.

The Heonjong placenta chamber is located in Deoksan-myeon, Yesan-gun, Chungnam Province. In the Taebongdo, it is represented by a roof stone with a lotus roof, octagonal railings, and a stele erected on a turtle-shaped pedestal. The painting follows a typical landscape composition. The placenta chamber is in the middle ground, a village in the foreground, and peaks and distant mountains are simply depicted in the background. The mountain peaks are realistically rendered with skilled brushwork. Soft ink tones add a sense of depth, effectively portraying misty scenes that create a mysterious atmosphere.

On the same day, the Cultural Heritage Administration also designated as treasures the 'Ganchil Bodhisattva Seated Statue,' notable for its solemn and intricate decoration; the 'Gilt-bronze Amitabha Triad and Associated Artifacts,' featuring characteristics of 14th-century Goryeo triads; and the 'Lotus Sutra,' which boasts high academic value. The Ganchil Bodhisattva Seated Statue was made in the late Goryeo to early Joseon period. It wears an ornate crown and displays the preaching mudra. The preaching mudra is a hand gesture symbolizing the Buddha’s teaching and enlightenment. The statue is posed in the Simuoein and Yeowonin postures, symbolizing the removal of all fears and the granting of all wishes. The statue was made using ganchil technique, where a clay model is created, layered with multiple cloths, and lacquered.

Only about twenty ganchil Buddhist statues currently exist. The Ganchil Bodhisattva Seated Statue is relatively large, standing 124.5 cm tall. It demonstrates the pinnacle of realism with its stable proportions, dignified body expression, hands emphasizing volume like human hands, naturally braided hair flowing over the shoulders, and separately crafted quartz eyes. The solemnity emanating from the face contrasts with the grandeur conveyed by the broad shoulders, presenting a dignified beauty.

The Gilt-bronze Amitabha Triad and Associated Artifacts have an inscription in the inner chest document stating they were made in 1333. The triad consists of the principal Amitabha Buddha statue and the attendant bodhisattvas Avalokiteshvara and Mahasthamaprapta on the left and right. Donors include Jang Hyeon and his wife Seon, Kim Jin, and Lee Gyeom. Kim Jin and Lee Gyeom were high-ranking officials who participated in ceremonies such as greeting the Yuan Dynasty Empress Dowager and important Buddhist rituals. The statues feature aristocratic facial features, elegant forms, rounded mid-waist, high crowns, gracefully lively body curves, and neatly tied inner garment sashes. These are all representative of 14th-century Buddhist statue styles. The delicate carving, casting techniques, and metalworking craftsmanship also demonstrate their high preservation value.

The Lotus Sutra is a Buddhist scripture printed in the late lunar March of 1405 at Ansimsa Temple and later reprinted. It consists of 7 volumes in 2 books. Both the donors and publication information are confirmed, giving it considerable academic value. Volumes 1 to 3 are also rare editions. The Cultural Heritage Administration explained, "It holds high historical and cultural value as a primary source for tracing early Joseon Buddhist scripture printing trends, the level of transformation illustrations (變相圖) by the engravers, and the Buddhist thought trends from late Goryeo to early Joseon."

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