A 17th-century hanging Buddhist painting of Maitreya, enshrined at Muryang Temple in South Chungcheong Province / Courtesy of Korea Heritage Service
Piece exemplifies country’s hanging Buddhist art, state agency says
By Park Han-sol
A towering 17th-century hanging Buddhist painting, regarded as one of the most representative examples of Korea’s large-scale Buddhist artworks, is set to be designated a national treasure, the Korea Heritage Service announced Thursday.
Hanging Buddhist scrolls, or “gwaebul” in Korean, were traditionally displayed in temple courtyards during outdoor sermons, ceremonies and rituals. With their monumental scale and intricate iconography, these paintings are often recognized as a distinctly Korean cultural heritage that stands apart from Buddhist artworks found elsewhere in the world.
The genre thrived from the 17th to 20th centuries, and some 120 survive across the country today, with seven designated as National Treasures and 55 as Treasures.
Korea’s heritage system classifies state-designated cultural assets into four tiers — National Treasure, Treasure, National Folklore Cultural Heritage and Historic Site — based on their historical and artistic importance. The upcoming designation will mark the first addition of a gwaebul to the National Treasure list in 28 years, following the collective designation of seven such paintings in 1997.
The 14-meter-tall painting, enshrined at Muryang Temple in South Chungcheong Province, depicts a standing Maitreya Buddha — the bodhisattva believed to be the future Buddha — adorned with an elaborate crown and intricate decorations.
“This painting marks the beginning of the country’s such ornate gwaebul tradition … Despite its massive size, its harmonious proportions and the striking contrast of red and green hues convey the sublime grandeur of religious art,” the state agency stated.
Beyond its artistic value, the hanging scroll holds historical significance, as it provides clear documentation of its origins.
An inscription at the bottom of the piece confirms that it was completed in 1627, during the reign of King Injo of the 1392-1910 Joseon Dynasty. This suggests that it predates other gwaebul paintings currently designated as National Treasures.
Created by four monk painters, the gwaebul reflects the widespread spiritual devotion to Maitreya in the Chungcheong region at the time. The masterpiece also helped shape and spread the tradition of large-scale Buddhist scroll paintings across Korea, influencing subsequent works with comparable iconography.
“This piece exemplifies the country’s hanging Buddhist art, distinguished by its scale, grandeur, historical significance, symbolic richness and artistic value. It fully merits designation as a national treasure,” the agency noted.
The agency will gather expert opinions during a 30-day review period, after which the cultural heritage committee will deliberate on officially announcing the gwaebul as the state-designated National Treasure.
