A Geungnak-jeon (극락전, 極樂殿, Extreme Bliss Hall or Paradise Hall) is a building in a larger temple dedicated to Amita-bul (阿彌陀佛, Amitabha the Buddha of Western Paradise) that enshrines his image along with related Bodhisattvas, and replicates his Western Paradise. This hermitage is claiming by its name to be that, on a larger scale. The special hall you saw many people praying at (with silence sign) was the famous Geungnak-jeon of this Geungnak-am...
Also, by the way, that's not a "shaman shrine hall", it's a Myeongbu-jeon (funeral hall). Those aren't Chilseong paintings (there would be 7 of them! and depicted differently) -- those are the Ten Judgement Kings of Hell. Sanshin is just in there because they don't have a separate Sanshin-gak or Samseong-gak...
It's interesting that you say that the hall is the Myeongbu-jeon. I looked at the paintings very carefully, and I believe the central painting is that of Chilseong with Wolgwang and Ilgwang on either side of Chilseong.
As a follow up to our discussion from before, it looks like I might have been right for once :) The hall is not a Myeongbu-jeon hall; but instead, it's a Susaejeon Hall dedicated to Chilseong. And the paintings inside depict the Seven Stars individually, with one more depicting the Pole Star. So in total, there are eight murals inside of this hall. Also, the painting that sits upon the altar in fact depicts Chilseong. He is holding a golden wheel, and Wolgwang and Ilgwang are standing at his sides.
Wow, great info. Those are then the weirdest Chilseong set of paintings i've ever seen -- and it's very rare to have the Seven Stars & Pole Star in individual paintings -- so, once again you've found something truly unique among Korean temples! So strange that a Myeongbu-jeon triad of statues would be in front of them -- but this hermitage seems to be into iconoclasm. And with the Bodhisattva hat on that Sanshin -- fantastic stuff! Great discoveries, Dale... I will have to re-visit all the Tongdo-sa hermitages m'self, inspired by this!
A Geungnak-jeon (극락전, 極樂殿, Extreme Bliss Hall or Paradise Hall) is a building in a larger temple dedicated to Amita-bul (阿彌陀佛, Amitabha the Buddha of Western Paradise) that enshrines his image along with related Bodhisattvas, and replicates his Western Paradise. This hermitage is claiming by its name to be that, on a larger scale. The special hall you saw many people praying at (with silence sign) was the famous Geungnak-jeon of this Geungnak-am...
ReplyDeleteThe Sanshin painting is new since i was last there 15 years ago... The Bodhisattva headdress he is wearing is quite notable!
ReplyDeleteBy the way, this is David Mason of www.san-shin.org -- trying to comment here using my Google ID -- dunno why it says "unknown"...
Also, by the way, that's not a "shaman shrine hall", it's a Myeongbu-jeon (funeral hall). Those aren't Chilseong paintings (there would be 7 of them! and depicted differently) -- those are the Ten Judgement Kings of Hell. Sanshin is just in there because they don't have a separate Sanshin-gak or Samseong-gak...
ReplyDeleteHello Mr. Mason,
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting that you say that the hall is the Myeongbu-jeon. I looked at the paintings very carefully, and I believe the central painting is that of Chilseong with Wolgwang and Ilgwang on either side of Chilseong.
As a follow up to our discussion from before, it looks like I might have been right for once :) The hall is not a Myeongbu-jeon hall; but instead, it's a Susaejeon Hall dedicated to Chilseong. And the paintings inside depict the Seven Stars individually, with one more depicting the Pole Star. So in total, there are eight murals inside of this hall. Also, the painting that sits upon the altar in fact depicts Chilseong. He is holding a golden wheel, and Wolgwang and Ilgwang are standing at his sides.
ReplyDeleteWow, great info. Those are then the weirdest Chilseong set of paintings i've ever seen -- and it's very rare to have the Seven Stars & Pole Star in individual paintings -- so, once again you've found something truly unique among Korean temples! So strange that a Myeongbu-jeon triad of statues would be in front of them -- but this hermitage seems to be into iconoclasm. And with the Bodhisattva hat on that Sanshin -- fantastic stuff! Great discoveries, Dale... I will have to re-visit all the Tongdo-sa hermitages m'self, inspired by this!
ReplyDelete