Szilágyi András (szerk.): Ars Decorativa 17. (Budapest, 1998)

Ildikó NAGY: The „Blazing Light " Buddha and his Heavenly Entourage in a Korean Painting at the Ferenc Hopp Museum of Eastern Asiatic Arts

The Wheel of the Law, the attribute held by the principal figure in his palms painted in accor-dance with the rules governing the depiction of the Buddha, and the Sun and Moon on the diadems of the bodhisattvas make it plain that the main figures in the picture are the "Blazing Light Buddha" and his attendants Suryaprabha, the Sunlight Bodhisattva, and Candraprabha, the Moonlight Bodhisattva. In front on both sides of the trinity are the celestial officials, while above them groups of Star-Buddhas are depicted. On the right side - in two rows - four celestial offi-cials can be seen. The hands of the figure (not fully shown) at the very front are in praying posture, the figure to the side and above holds a scroll in his hands; the one next to him bears a badge denoting his name and rank. The fourth (with a slightly individualized face) is largely obscured by the nimbus of the Moonlight Bodhisattva. On the left side of the trinity of gods are another three celestial officials, in secular attire similar to that of the previous three. Their head-gear is of a type characteristic of rulers, with appliqué lotus flower embellishments in gold. Their clothing - with gold-coloured, stylized dragon and lotus flower motifs - corresponds to the court dress of that age. The one in the foreground holds his hands together in front of him the hands and/or attributes of the others cannot be seen. All the officials have drooping moustaches and sparse beards, although their facial expressions differ. It is certain that these celestial officials depict the Seven Star-Gods, in a form and style close to Chinese Daoist depictions. On the left, near the principal deity, there is an additional figure next to the celestial officials. His round face and curved lips are feminine in their delineation; his hair is held in two bunches on the top of his head by a red braided string. He is probably a celestial servant, who carries on his shoulder a round tray with a wavy-edge bearing fruits: pomegranates turning red and citnis fruits, among them distinctively shaped fruit known as Buddha's hand, with a characteristic curved finger-posture. Above die celestial officials, on floating white balls of cloud, sit an additional seven little Buddhas, in contemplative posture and with hands held in praying attitude, on open indigo-blue lotus flowers. Four are on the right side and three on the left. In comparison with the celestial officials there are very small in size. In appearance - the flesh-coloured scalp visible through their hair, die lump on the head, their attire and the twin nimbus - they resembles the principal figure. A characteristic feature of the colouring of the nimbuses is that behind the heads they are uniformly green with a gold border; on the other hand, behind the second Buddha figure from the right it is white, while the rest are orange with black and white borders. These seven little Buddha figures depicted in the celestial entourage of the "Blazing Light" Buddha are none other than the Seven Star-Buddhas. On the necks of all the figures can be seen a neck-fold (Kor. samdó) marked with three lines, characteristic of Buddha and bodhisattva depictions. Above, the picture field is framed by wavyedged fig leaves (Ficus religiosa, the tree of Buddhist enlightenment); die background consists of a firmament of blurred indigo. In line with the general practice when Korean hanging scrolls were made, tire canvas of Ulis painting was prepared using primer, sketched out and Üien painted mainly with mineral-based paints - with gold paint among them - and Chinese ink. Today the painted surface is in places worn and cracked. The colours are nevertheless vivid, and the overall effect is uniform and impressive. On the basis of the freer style of depiction, the proportions of the figures and the colours employed, the picture can in all certainty be grouped among the works produced in the 19 century.