The depicted figure of Hyeonwang is a transformed representation of King Yeomna [King Yama], the fifth king of hell. The name ‘Hyeonwang’ reflects the belief that King Yeomna will eventually become the Buddha known as ‘Bohyeonwang Yeorae’ in the future. Unlike the Ten Kings of Hell, who judge the deceased over a three-year period, Hyeonwang is venerated as a being who rescues souls on the third day after death and aids them in attaining rebirth in the Pure Land. The ritual dedicated to Hyeonwang, known as ‘Hyeonwangjae’, was not practiced in China or Japan but first appeared in ritual manuals in 16th-century Joseon. Paintings of Hyeonwang are predominantly date from the 18th to 19th centuries.

In the center of the painting, Hyeonwang is seated against a folding screen. Hyeonwang is depicted wearing a scripture crown, tied securely with a cord. This representation reflects the late Joseon belief in the spiritual efficacy of reciting the Diamond Sutra, which led to depictions of both King Yeomna and Hyeonwang adorned with scripture crowns. Hyeonwang is surrounded by a magistrate in the attire of a lower-ranking official, a messenger holding a scroll, celestial maidens bearing offerings and fans, and young attendants, including both boys and girls. According to inscription, this painting was created in 1798 at Seongbulsa Temple in Hamheung by monks praying for the rebirth of their parents in the Pure Land.