Songgwangsa Temple Buddhist paintings designated as national treasures

The South Korean government has designated the ‘Songgwangsa Osipbulhoe-do’ (Paintings of the Fifty-Three Buddhas of Songgwangsa Temple) as a national treasure. The designation includes seven Buddhist paintings created in 1725 and 31 related ritual objects.

The artworks were produced by the prominent late Joseon Dynasty painter Uigyeom and 26 of his disciples. The collection is highly valued for its artistic merit and historical significance, providing insight into the production systems of the Uigyeom school and the religious practices of the 18th-century Jeonnam region.

The paintings follow the Osipbul faith, which suggests that worshipping the fifty-three Buddhas can lead to meeting all Buddhas in every rebirth. The collection is notable for its precise brushwork and balanced compositions. Additionally, the history of the pieces includes the 2016 repatriation of two paintings that had been stolen in the 1970s and held at the Portland Art Museum in the United States.