나주시문화관광

Owner : 죽림사 Scale : Horizontal 275cm, Vertical 514cm Number : Cultural treasure No. 1279 Era : 1622 Material : Color model Designated date : 29 June 1998. The term, ‘gwaebul,’ is used to refer to paintings that are hung for outdoor Buddhist ceremonies. The painting of the Buddha for outdoor rituals at Jungnimsa Temple was produced in 14th year of Gwanghaegun’s rule in 1622, and it is known to be the oldest painting for outdoor rituals among some 70 of its kind that exist in Korea today. The painting depicts solely the Shakyamuni Buddha, without any other Buddhas, and it is said that such depictions are rare in the Buddhist paintings produced in the Joseon Dynasty. The mudra or the hand seal of touching the earth is depicted in the painting. To be more specific, this was the mudra of the Shakyamuni Buddha during a sitting meditation, and it was where he’d let his right hand rest on his right knee with the fingers pointing toward the earth. It represents the ‘subjugation of the Evil One,’ attempting to disrupt his meditation.