Journal of Korean Art & Archaeology 2021, Vol.15 pp.71-83
Copyright & License
In Buddhism, death is viewed not as an end, but as a transition to another life, with Nirvana being ultimate liberation. Sentient beings cycle through Six Paths of rebirth until Nirvana is attained. Nectar Ritual Paintings, from the Joseon Dynasty, depict the journey of wandering souls, represented by hungry ghosts, toward salvation. These paintings reflect the stages of Water-Land Retreat rituals, aiming to guide souls to paradise. Amid suppression, these rituals symbolized hope and societal order. Hungry ghosts, embodying greed and suffering, are central to these paintings, illustrating both the agony and the transformative journey to salvation. The depiction emphasizes the interconnectedness of suffering and salvation, highlighting the concept that hell and paradise are intertwined, with salvation achieved through mutual causation. The paintings symbolically narrate the progression from one state of existence to another, asserting that life and death are inseparable.
- 1291Download
- 666Viewed
Other articles from this issue
- The Unique Characteristics of Gaya Culture
- Gaya History and Culture
- Gaya Armor: The Culmination of Gaya Iron Crafting
- Developments in the Pottery Culture of Gaya
- The Ancient East Asian World and Gaya: Maritime Networks and Exchange
- Casting Techniques for Gilt-bronze Pensive Bodhisattva Sculptures: Focusing on Korean National Treasures No. 78 and No. 83