Analysis of Records on the Creation and Repair of Buddhist Statues and Paintings in the Wonju region during the Joseon Dynasty

This paper examines the relationship between Gakrimsa (the representative temple in the Wonju region in the early Joseon Dynasty) and the royal family, and analyzes the Balwonmuns on Creation / Repair of the Buddhist Statues and the inscriptions of Buddhist paintings in theWonju region in the late Joseon Dynasty. Regarding Gakrimsa, the relationship with the royal family was examined in detail in the Joseon Wangjo Sillok (Veritable Records of the Joseon Dynasty). Among the main analysis subjects of this paper, Buddhist statue data include the Bokjang Records of the Wooden Seated Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva Statue of Guryongsa Temple (1686, 1911) and the Wooden Vairochana Buddha Statue of Daeseongam Temple (1750), and Buddhist painting data include the Buddhist painting records of Guryongsa Temple (1727) and Yeongwonsa Temple (1759). Gakrimsa Temple was the temple where King Taejong (reigned 1400-1418), the third king of Joseon, stayed before ascending to the throne. After Taejong ascended to the throne, it was rebuilt and maintained a close relationship with the royal family. King Taejong used Gakrimsa Temple to hold a memorial service for his parents and as a place for martial arts training. He also dispatched painters to help with the reconstruction of Gakrimsa Temple. However, Gakrimsa Temple was abandoned in the late 17th century. The Wooden Seated Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva Statue of Guryongsa Temple was created in 1686 at Bongboksa Temple in Hoengseong, and was repaired six times in 1715, 1767, 1887, 1911, 1989, and 2002. This statue was moved from Bongboksa Temple in the 18th century. The Wooden Seated Vairocana Buddha Statue of Daeseongam Temple was moved from Sangwonsa Temple in Pyeongchang after 1960. Both statues are related to the royal family of the Joseon Dynasty, and share the commonality of having been created in Gangwon-do and moved to the Wonju area. The Buddhist paintings 「Samjangbosaldo> and 「Gamnodo> at Guryongsa Temple were created in 1727, and 「Gamnodo> and 「Vairocana Buddha> at Yeongwonsa Temple were created in 1759. In particular, the fact that 「Gamnodo> and 「Samjangbosaldo>, which are closely related to Suryukjae (WaterandLand Rite), were produced in the 18th century and have been handed down, are valuable as materials for future research on Buddhist paintings in the Gangwon-do region. Among the people who participated in the creation of Buddhist statues and paintings in the Wonju region during the late Joseon Dynasty, the activities of “geosa” and “sadang” are noteworthy. In particular, the geosa Baekyeon who was in charge of the creation of the wooden seated Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva statue at Guryongsa Temple, the geosa Shinhwan who participated in the creation of the 「Samjangbosaldo> at Guryongsa Temple, the geosa Seonwon couple who participated in the creation of the wooden seated Vairocana Buddha statue at Daeseongsa Temple, and the Myeongwolsadang Gak-sun who was in charge of the creation of the 「Vairocana Buddhado> at Yeongwonsa Temple are very valuable data for analyzing the donor class in the creation of Buddhist statues and paintings in the 17th and 18th centuries.