Although Confucianism was the officially sanctioned state religion during the Joseon period, Buddhism continued to flourish, especially during the seventeenth century following two devastating invasions of Korea by Japan that lasted from 1592 to 1598. Because it offered comfort to the distressed public during the aftermath of the war, Buddhism experienced a surge in popularity and, accordingly, damaged Buddhist temples were renovated and many new sculptures installed.
Seated in meditation with a beautiful and serene face, this sculpture represents Amita, who governs the Western Paradise in Pure Land Buddhism. Amita raises his right hand in the gesture of "Do not fear," implying that wisdom and salvation are accessible to all. In the original temple setting, the sculpture may have been the central component of an altar to Amita or it may have been an attendant Buddha flanking the right side of a central image of Shakyamuni, the Historical Buddha.
The original inscription page was found in the interior of the sculpture - packed along with many loose sutra pages - and records the date made (1735), the sponsors of the project, and two sculptors involved, Jeonghaeng and Seonwon. Jeonghaeng also made another Amita Buddha triad in 1736 for Jogye temple in Danyang, Chungcheong Province. Although heavily worn from age - the face was originally gilded - the figure is typical of works from the Joseon period, with a warm and nonintimidating expression.
Hyonjeong Kim, Associate Curator, Chinese and Korean Art, (2008)
