The Only Original Gyeongsuyeondo and Rare Goryeo Buddhist Paintings to Be Designated as Treasures

"Sinjung Eomgyeong Meditation Calligraphy Album," "The Sutra of the Bodhisattva's Mind Precepts, Volume 10, Part 2," and Five Other Works
One-Month Public Consultation Followed by Review by the Cultural Heritage Committee

Sinjung Eomgyeong Meditation Calligraphy Album

Seven cultural heritage items, including a Gyeongsuyeondo (a painting celebrating longevity) from the Joseon Dynasty, Buddhist paintings from the Goryeo and Joseon periods, scriptures, and a temple bell, will be newly designated as treasures at the same time.

The National Heritage Administration announced on November 3 that it plans to designate the following as treasures: "Sinjung Eomgyeong Meditation Calligraphy Album," "Yeongsanhwesangdo," "The Sutra of the Bodhisattva's Mind Precepts, Volume 10, Part 2," "The Lotus Sutra, Chapter 3," "Gurye Hwaeomsa Temple Bronze Bell," "Goryeo Suwol Gwaneum Bosaldo," and "Yeongsan Hoesangdo of Yeongchuk Temple." The agency will collect opinions from various sectors for one month and finalize the designation after a review by the Cultural Heritage Committee.

The "Sinjung Eomgyeong Meditation Calligraphy Album," held by the Goryeong Shin family, is a calligraphy and painting album created in 1601 by the sons of Sinjung Eom to commemorate a longevity celebration for their father’s 80th birthday. It is the only surviving original Gyeongsuyeondo painting.

The album includes Heo Mok’s seal script calligraphy "Gyeongsumijeong" and "Gyeongsudo Album," four paintings-"Gyeongsuyeondo," "Seomun Gumo-do," "Yongsan Gangjeong-do," and "Nujeong Hanildo"-and Han Ho’s regular script calligraphy "Guryeong Haksan." It also contains poetry and prose by Lee Hangbok, Kim Hyunseong, Lee Deokhyeong, and Lee Sanhae, providing a comprehensive overview of mid-Joseon calligraphy, painting, and literature history.

Yeongsanhwesangdo

The privately owned "Yeongsanhwesangdo" is a Buddhist painting created in 1560 (the 15th year of King Myeongjong's reign) by Queen Munjeong to pray for the royal family's longevity and prosperity. Painted on silk with gold pigment, it depicts the moment when Sakyamuni Buddha preaches the Lotus Sutra at Yeongchuksan. The painting exemplifies 16th-century Buddhist art with its simple halos and nimbuses and balanced depiction of figures.

The Sutra of the Bodhisattva's Mind Precepts, Volume 10, Part 2

"The Sutra of the Bodhisattva's Mind Precepts, Volume 10, Part 2," housed at the National Hangeul Museum, is a fundamental Mahayana Buddhist precept text. It details ten grave offenses and forty-eight minor offenses that bodhisattvas must keep in mind. This work is valuable for understanding cultural exchanges between Goryeo and the Yuan Dynasty, and the inclusion of Goryeo-period phonetic annotations in the text gives it significant bibliographical and linguistic value.

The Lotus Sutra, Chapter 3

"The Lotus Sutra, Chapter 3," held by Keimyung University Dongsan Library, is a metal-type edition printed in 1450 (the 32nd year of King Sejong's reign) by royal command, using paper produced in Joseon and printed by Prince Anpyeong, Prince Geumseong, and others. Although 33 copies were printed, only a few survive today, and this is the only existing copy of this particular volume. The inclusion of Hangeul and phonetic annotations throughout the text makes it highly valuable as a linguistic resource.

Gurye Hwaeomsa Temple Bronze Bell

The Gurye Hwaeomsa Temple Bronze Bell was cast in 1711 (the 37th year of King Sukjong’s reign) by master bell-maker Yun Jongbaek. The boundary between the bell’s shoulder and crown is decorated with lotus patterns, and monk figures are inserted within the petals to depict scenes of rebirth in a lotus. As a large-scale temple bell from the late Joseon period, it is notable for its excellent casting and aesthetic beauty.

Goryeo Suwol Gwaneum Bosaldo

The "Goryeo Suwol Gwaneum Bosaldo" at the National Museum of Korea is a Buddhist painting depicting Sudhana’s encounter with Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva. The dynamic patterns of the delicate robes, subtle coloring, and refined use of gold pigment stand out. With only six such works remaining in Korea, it is extremely rare.

Yeongsan Hoesangdo of Yeongchuk Temple

The "Yeongsan Hoesangdo of Yeongchuk Temple," held by the National Museum of Korea, is a Buddhist painting created by Hyesik in 1742 (the 18th year of King Yeongjo’s reign). The elegant linework and stable color palette exemplify the characteristics of early 18th-century Yeongnam Buddhist paintings. The fact that the group of Buddhist painters is referred to as "Bisuhwoe" in the inscription is a rare example showing the organized activities of Buddhist painter groups in the late Joseon period.

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