Cheoneunsa Temple Ultimate Bliss Hall: Amitabha Buddha Assembly

SOUTH KOREA, South Jeolla, Gurye; Joseon dynasty

This painting hangs on the back wall of the Ultimate Bliss Hall in Cheoneunsa Temple. It depicts Amitabha Buddha in the Pure Land with an assembly of heavenly beings, a popular subject for paintings during the late Joseon dynasty (1392–1910). The painting was listed as Treasure No. 924 in 1987.
Amitabha Buddha is seated in the center of the image. His nimbus and aureole are composed of colorful concentric rings around a green base, while his robes are decorated with intricate patterned motifs. He is surrounded by the Four Heavenly Kings, the Eight Great Bodhisattvas, and six of the Ten Great Disciples. The Bodhisattvas all wear ornate robes. Cartouches painted within their nimbuses identify them as Avalokitesvara, Mahasthamaprapta, Manjusri, Samantabhadra, Ksitigarbha, Maitreya, Vajragarbha, and Sarvanivarana Viskambhin. In the middle at the bottom of the painting, Sariputra is shown kneeling before the Buddha with his back to the viewer.