Jikjisa Temple Great Hero Hall: Assemblies of Three Buddhas

SOUTH KOREA, North Gyeongsang, Gimcheon; Joseon dynasty

These paintings of Sakyamuni Buddha, Medicine Buddha, and Amitabha Buddha hang behind the statues of the Three Buddhas in the Great Hero Hall of Jikjisa Temple. In 1980, they were listed as Treasure No. 670.
Sakyamuni Buddha is portrayed sitting on a lotus throne, teaching the Dharma on Vulture Peak. He has small facial features and a serene expression. His urna emits beams of light, and transparent smoke rises from a jewel at the top of his usnisa and trails off into the top corners. The Buddha wears a monastic robe that leaves the right shoulder bare. His left hand is placed in front of his abdomen and his right hand forms the bhumisparsa (earth-touching) mudra. The nimbus is green, while the mandorla is decorated with curved, colorful lines. The Eight Great Bodhisattvas, Ten Great Disciples, Heavenly Kings, and other figures surround the Buddha. Sanskrit syllables within circles are painted around the sides and top of the painting, and an inscription is written at the bottom.
The painting of Medicine Buddha hangs to the right of the image of Sakyamuni. The Buddha’s right hand forms a mudra in front of his chest and his left hand holds a medicine box. Suryaprabha and Candraprabha Bodhisattvas stand at the foot of the throne on the left and right. Heavenly Kings stand in the lower corners. The Eight Great Bodhisattvas, Brahma, Sakra, Twelve Sravakas, Buddhas of the Ten Directions, the Twelve Yaksa Generals, and the Eight Classes of Dharma Protectors occupy the remainder of the picture. In the painting on the left, Amitabha Buddha is surrounded by a multitude of figures including Avalokitesvara, Mahasthamaprapta, Vaisravana, Bodhisattvas, Brahma, Sakra, Buddhas of the Ten Directions, Eighteen Sravakas, Eight Wisdom Kings, and heavenly beings.