Beautiful Inside View of Bongeunsa Temple

#fallingseason The wooden statues of the Four Heavenly Kings used to be enshrined inside Cheonwangmun Gate in Bongeunsa Temple. Now, they are enshrined inside Jinyeomun Gate. The Four Heavenly Kings are known as the deities who reside on the mid-slope of Sumisan (Mt.), and guard the four directions and the Dharma. The Four Heavenly Kings are portrayed as armed warriors. They are Vaisravana, guardian of the North holding a lute, Dhrtarastra, guardian of the East holding a sword, Virupaksa, guardian of the West holding a banner, and Virudhaka, guardian of the South holding a naga. The statues in Bongeunsa share the same stylistic features as the other statues from the 18th century. Only, they are distinguished by the fact that they are made of wood and that they are smaller in size than others even though they are standing statues. Also, they show humorous and friendly looks instead of the frightening expressions like the Four Heavenly King statues. Recently, a written statement of vows and on the production of the statues, and other relics were retrieved from inside the statues. The written document says the state artists like Yeochan, Sinchal, Seonghyeon, Jeongil, Haeun, and Minhwi produced the statues in 1746.