Donghwasa Temple Geumdangam Hermitage Ultimate Bliss Hall: Amitabha Buddha with Six Bodhisattvas

SOUTH KOREA, Daegu; Joseon dynasty

This painting, originally located behind the Buddha statues in the Ultimate Bliss Hall at Geumdangam Hermitage of Donghwasa Temple, was painted by Euigyun in 1703, four years after he finished a similar illustration of Amitabha Buddha in the same hall. In the painting, Amitabha is flanked by six standing Bodhisattvas, a rare arrangement among Korean artworks. Amitabha, with a pointed usnisa topped with a pearl, sits in full lotus position on a square platform. A red monastic robe is draped over both shoulders. His right hand is held up while his left hand rests in his lap. The middle fingers and thumbs of both hands touch to form the middle grade of the lowest class mudra. The three attending Bodhisattvas on the right are Avalokitesvara, Vajragarbha, and Manjusri. On the left are Mahasthamaprapta, Sarvanivarana Viskambhin, and Samantabhadra Bodhisattva.