Seoul’s National Museum of Korea is presently holding the ninth in its series of large Buddhist painting exhibitions, “The Buddhist Hanging Scroll at Gaeamsa Temple,” which will run until 26 April 2015. The scroll is on loan from Gaeamsa Temple on Mt. Neungpa in South Jeolla Province, and is one of a group of paintings called gwaebul, which are rarely exhibited due to their size. The museum hopes that this unique opportunity will provide a good introduction to Buddhist ritual within the Korean context. Buddhism has played an essential part in the country’s culture and religious practice since its arrival in the 4th century.
The hanging scroll from Gaeamsa Temple. From koreatimes.co.kr
Gaeamsa Temple was built in 634 during the Baekje dynasty (18 BCE–660 CE), and underwent a three-year restoration period after the dynasty fell. The main sanctuary, Daeungjeon, is Korea’s National Treasure No. 292.
Gwaebul were traditionally used during outdoor rituals held mostly at temples. These rituals were attended by large crowds on certain special days, such as the Buddha’s birthday, and served to alleviate suffering due to hunger, war, disease, and natural disasters, through the strength of the Buddha. The scrolls were hung on flagpoles in front of the temples so that people could see them from far away. This was especially important at rituals for the spirits of the dead.
Gaeamsa Temple. From english.visitkorea.or.kr
The hanging scroll at Gaeamsa Temple is one of about 100 gwaebul produced between the early 17th and late 19th centuries. It was completed in 1749 during the Joseon dynasty (1392–1897), and measures 13.17 meters high (about the height of a five-story building). It depicts seven Buddhist deities including, in the center, a Buddha triad—a Buddha with a bodhisattva on either side.
According to the museum, this is one of the largest gwaebul in Korea. Historical records indicate that it was completed by 13 painters and 191 laymen, while the materials were obtained by 59 Buddhist monks. This massive endeavor was led by Ui-gyeom, a monk-painter active during the 18th century. The Gaeamsa Temple’s records also reveal that the gwaebul was used not only in Buddhist rituals, but also in “rituals calling for rain during droughts.” Monks at the temple apparently continued to use the scroll in outdoor rituals until the 19th century. The government has now designated the painting as National Treasure No. 1269, with the intention to preserve the magnificent and towering gwaebul for future generations.
Other examples of gwaebul include the painting at Naesosa Temple, which was completed in June 1700. The imagery features the historical Buddha, Shakyamuni, in the center, surrounded by six other Buddhas and bodhisattvas in an oval design. The individual Buddhas’ names are written in gold paint. The scroll’s iconography is based on the Lotus Sutra.