National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage Publishes First English Research Book on 'Gwaebul' Theme

Large Buddhist Paintings Used in Outdoor Ceremonies at Temples
Volume 1 English Edition... Includes 26 Gwaebul from Gyeongsang Region
Volume 2 Korean Edition... Covers 15 Gwaebul from Jeolla Region

On the 30th, the National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage under the Cultural Heritage Administration announced the publication of an academic series examining the characteristics of Gwaebul designated as National Treasures and Treasures by region. The series includes the English version of "The Beauty of Korean Gwaebul" (Part 1: Gyeongsang Region) and the Korean version (Part 2: Jeolla Region).

Gwaebul are large Buddhist paintings created for outdoor ceremonies at temples. They intricately depict scenes of the Buddha delivering sermons on massive canvases. This format is rarely found in China and Japan, representing Korea's originality and artistic excellence. From 1985 to 2001, the National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage conducted a comprehensive survey of Gwaebul held in temples nationwide. Especially since 2015, in collaboration with the Seongbo Cultural Heritage Research Institute, they have conducted detailed analyses of large Buddhist paintings. This academic series is the result of adding art historical analysis to the survey findings. It examines the formal characteristics of Gwaebul by region based on in-depth research ongoing since 2022.

The English version, Part 1, contains the survey results of twenty-six nationally designated Gwaebul held by twenty-four temples in the Gyeongsang region. The manuscript was supplemented to suit the perspective of overseas readers and researchers unfamiliar with Gwaebul, with additional content on inscriptions and patterns. A representative from the institute stated, "It was written according to notation standards widely used in English-language humanities academic books and papers," adding, "It is significant as the first English study focused solely on Gwaebul."

The Korean version, Part 2, mainly covers the survey results of fifteen Gwaebul and one preliminary sketch held by fifteen temples in the Jeolla region. Based on investigations of Buddhist painters (Hwaseung), iconographic analysis, and Buddhist ritual collections, it analyzes the historicity and formal characteristics of late Joseon period Gwaebul in the Jeolla region. An institute representative explained, "It includes high-resolution photos that allow detailed appreciation of early Gwaebul and those created by various painters such as Uigyeom and Bihyeon."

The report will be distributed to major domestic and international libraries, museums, and cultural heritage research institutions. It is also available as an e-book on the National Heritage Knowledge Sharing website of the National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage.

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