Newly Displayed Works in Buddhist Painting Gallery

Praying for Good Fortune: Buddhist Paintings in the Three Sages Shrine

○ Venue: Buddhist Painting Gallery in Calligraphy and Painting Section

○ Works on Display: Seven Stars and 15 other paintings

○ Dates: March 6 - Aug 26, 2012

On March 6, the National Museum of Korea (Director Kim Youngna) unveiled all new works in the Buddhist Painting Gallery, introducing an exhibit renewal entitled Praying for Good Fortune: Buddhist Paintings in the Three Sages Shrine.

The “three sages” refer to the Seven Stars, Hermit Sage, and Mountain Spirit, all of which exemplify how Buddhism incorporated elements of Korean folklore into its pantheon of beliefs. Buddhist temples in Korea often contain a small shrine, usually in the back of the temple, dedicated to either one or all three of these sages. When all three are enshrined in one hall, it is called a Three Sages Shrine. The painting of Seven Stars represents an amalgam of Buddhism and astronomy, in which the North Star represents Buddha Blazing Abundant Brightness, and the Seven Stars of the Big Dipper represent Seven Buddhas. The Hermit Sage, a Buddhist saint, is painted as an object of worship, to be prayed to for good fortune, and paintings of the Mountain Spirit combine Buddhism with traditional mountain spirit worship.

Click here for the exhibition details!