동국대 박물관 소장 <신중도>(1813) 고찰

A Study on the Dongguk University Museum's Guardian Deities Painting (1813)

Painting of Guardian Deities (1813) housed in Dongguk University Museum can be characterized by line drawing elements, a fur chair motif placed behind Indra, and an unusual shape of Skanda's headgear. It is especially a creative work of art among the 19th century paintings of guardian deities. Unfortunately, however, its place of enshrinement is unknown since an inscription on the painting is partially damaged. This paper analyzes iconographic influences among the 18th and 19th centuries paintings of guardian deities in order to locate its place of enshrinement and as a result, has found out that the iconographies of Indra and guardian deities originated from the Guardian Deities painting (1766) in Chilseong-am of Bulhoe-sa temple. Further, this paper focuses on the term 'bisu' which is written on the inscription and demonstrates that it is related to Jeolla Province. Thus, following the above mentioned evidences, this paper suggests Nam-am of Cheonhwang-sa temple in Jeonbuk Province as the painting's place of enshrinement. Motifs such as line drawn clouds or fur chair well demonstrate the characteristics of the painting which occupy a special place among the paintings of guardian deities in later Joseon Dynasty. Further, it is considered as an important work among the 19th century paintings of guardian deities in Jeolla province that has excluded traditional iconography succeeded by Bihyeon school by introducing new iconography of heavenly deities.