Utilization of the Iconography of Buddhist Prints during the Joseon Dynasty—Focusing on “the Listener” in Sakyamuni Preaching Paintings

This paper focuses on the iconography of “the Listener” in Buddhist prints that was adopted in Joseon dynasty <i>Sakyamuni Preaching</i> paintings. Regarding change in the Listener iconography from bodhisattva form to monk form, diverse research has been conducted on the Listener’s ident...

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Main Author: Jahyun Kim
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-05-01
Series:Religions
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/12/5/324
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author Jahyun Kim
author_facet Jahyun Kim
author_sort Jahyun Kim
collection DOAJ
description This paper focuses on the iconography of “the Listener” in Buddhist prints that was adopted in Joseon dynasty <i>Sakyamuni Preaching</i> paintings. Regarding change in the Listener iconography from bodhisattva form to monk form, diverse research has been conducted on the Listener’s identity and origin. However, existing studies are limited as they fail to consider the circumstances of the time this iconography was first adopted and trends in Joseon Buddhism. As the first Joseon print where the Listener in bodhisattva form appeared was based on a print from the Chinese Ming dynasty, and considering trends in publication of Buddhist prints in China where pictures of the Buddha preaching were used repeatedly in sutras regardless of the contents, this paper argues that the Listener should not be identified with any particular figure and examines the current state and characteristics of Joseon Buddhist paintings where the Listener appears. It also explores the possibility that the Listener’s change from bodhisattva form to monk form was driven by monk artists such as Myeongok, who were exposed to diverse iconography as they participated in creating both Buddhist paintings and prints in a situation where monks who had received systematic education gained a new awareness of iconography.
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spelling doaj.art-0435fe9abe3f4a22a4da27c9d90e91cd2023-11-21T18:14:04ZengMDPI AGReligions2077-14442021-05-0112532410.3390/rel12050324Utilization of the Iconography of Buddhist Prints during the Joseon Dynasty—Focusing on “the Listener” in Sakyamuni Preaching PaintingsJahyun Kim0Department of History and Culture, University of Ulsan, Ulsan 44610, KoreaThis paper focuses on the iconography of “the Listener” in Buddhist prints that was adopted in Joseon dynasty <i>Sakyamuni Preaching</i> paintings. Regarding change in the Listener iconography from bodhisattva form to monk form, diverse research has been conducted on the Listener’s identity and origin. However, existing studies are limited as they fail to consider the circumstances of the time this iconography was first adopted and trends in Joseon Buddhism. As the first Joseon print where the Listener in bodhisattva form appeared was based on a print from the Chinese Ming dynasty, and considering trends in publication of Buddhist prints in China where pictures of the Buddha preaching were used repeatedly in sutras regardless of the contents, this paper argues that the Listener should not be identified with any particular figure and examines the current state and characteristics of Joseon Buddhist paintings where the Listener appears. It also explores the possibility that the Listener’s change from bodhisattva form to monk form was driven by monk artists such as Myeongok, who were exposed to diverse iconography as they participated in creating both Buddhist paintings and prints in a situation where monks who had received systematic education gained a new awareness of iconography.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/12/5/324Sakyamuni PreachingLotus SutraBuddhist printsthe ListenerJoseon dynastyGyeonseongam Hermitage 見性庵
spellingShingle Jahyun Kim
Utilization of the Iconography of Buddhist Prints during the Joseon Dynasty—Focusing on “the Listener” in Sakyamuni Preaching Paintings
Religions
Sakyamuni Preaching
Lotus Sutra
Buddhist prints
the Listener
Joseon dynasty
Gyeonseongam Hermitage 見性庵
title Utilization of the Iconography of Buddhist Prints during the Joseon Dynasty—Focusing on “the Listener” in Sakyamuni Preaching Paintings
title_full Utilization of the Iconography of Buddhist Prints during the Joseon Dynasty—Focusing on “the Listener” in Sakyamuni Preaching Paintings
title_fullStr Utilization of the Iconography of Buddhist Prints during the Joseon Dynasty—Focusing on “the Listener” in Sakyamuni Preaching Paintings
title_full_unstemmed Utilization of the Iconography of Buddhist Prints during the Joseon Dynasty—Focusing on “the Listener” in Sakyamuni Preaching Paintings
title_short Utilization of the Iconography of Buddhist Prints during the Joseon Dynasty—Focusing on “the Listener” in Sakyamuni Preaching Paintings
title_sort utilization of the iconography of buddhist prints during the joseon dynasty focusing on the listener in sakyamuni preaching paintings
topic Sakyamuni Preaching
Lotus Sutra
Buddhist prints
the Listener
Joseon dynasty
Gyeonseongam Hermitage 見性庵
url https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/12/5/324
work_keys_str_mv AT jahyunkim utilizationoftheiconographyofbuddhistprintsduringthejoseondynastyfocusingonthelistenerinsakyamunipreachingpaintings