Gwaebul (괘불), meaning "Large Buddhist Banner Painting," are extremely large-scale Buddhist scroll paintings found throughout Korea. They are fairly rare, and only 53 were studied between 1986 and 2001. The paintings are typically brought out only rarely for special festivals or holidays such as Buddha's Birthday or Gwaebul Festivals when they are unrolled and hung from tall poles in the temple courtyard. When not in use, gwaebul are stored in a box behind the altar in a temple hall.
They compare with the thongdrels of Bhutanese and Tibetan art. These are made from applique silk, and in Tibetan monasteries thangka walls are constructed specially for their display.
Status as Cultural Assets Of the known gwaebul, seven have been designated as National Treasures, 47 as Treasures, and eight as Registered Cultural Heritage objects. NameDesignation StatusHanging Painting of Chiljangsa Temple (Five Buddhas)National Treasure 296Hanging Painting of Ansimsa Temple (The Vulture Peak Assembly)National Treasure 297Hanging Painting of Gapsa Temple (Buddha Triad)National Treasure 298Hanging Painting of Sinwonsa Temple (Rocana Buddha)National Treasure 299Hanging Painting of Janggoksa Temple (Maitreya Buddha)National Treasure 300Hanging Painting of Hwaeomsa Temple (The Vulture Peak Assembly)National Treasure 301Hanging Painting of Cheonggoksa Temple (The Vulture Peak Assembly)National Treasure 302Buddhist Hanging Painting of Cheongnyangsan MountainTreasure 1210Hanging Painting of Chiljangsa Temple (Buddha Triad)Treasure 1256Hanging Painting of Cheongnyongsa Temple (The Vulture Peak Assembly)Treasure 1257Hanging Painting of Bosalsa Temple (The Vulture Peak Assembly)Treasure 1258Hanging Painting of Beopjusa TempleTreasure 1259Hanging Painting of Magoksa Temple (Sakyamuni Buddha)Treasure 1260Hanging Painting of Gwangdeoksa Temple (Rocana Buddha)Treasure 1261Hanging Painting of Yongbongsa Temple (The Vulture Peak Assembly)Treasure 1262Hanging Painting of Sudeoksa Temple (Rocana Buddha)Treasure 1263Hanging Painting of Gaesimsa Temple (The Vulture Peak Assembly)Treasure 1264Hanging Painting of Muryangsa Temple (Maitreya Buddha)Treasure 1265Hanging Painting of Geumdangsa TempleTreasure 1266Hanging Painting of Anguksa Temple (The Vulture Peak Assembly)Treasure 1267Hanging Painting of Naesosa Temple (The Vulture Peak Assembly)Treasure 1268Hanging Painting and the Sketch of Gaeamsa Temple (The Vulture Peak Assembly)Treasure 1269Hanging Painting of Eunhaesa TempleTreasure 1270Hanging Painting of Sudosa Temple (Rocana Buddha)Treasure 1271Hanging Painting of Bukjangsa Temple (The Vulture Peak Assembly)Treasure 1278Hanging Painting of Jungnimsa Temple (Sakyamuni Buddha)Treasure 1279Hanging Painting of Yulgoksa TempleTreasure 1316Hanging Painting and Storage Chest of Unheungsa TempleTreasure 1317Hanging Painting of Heungguksa Temple (Rocana Buddha)Treasure 1331Hanging Painting of Odeoksa TempleTreasure 1339Hanging Painting of Cheoneunsa TempleTreasure 1340Hanging Painting of Dorimsa TempleTreasure 1341Hanging Painting of Mihwangsa TempleTreasure 1342Hanging Painting of Dabosa TempleTreasure 1343Hanging Painting of Geumtapsa TempleTreasure 1344Hanging Painting of Manyeonsa TempleTreasure 1345Hanging Painting of Tongdosa Temple (Sakyamuni Buddha)Treasure 1350Hanging Painting of Tongdosa TempleTreasure 1351Hanging Painting of Yongheungsa Temple (Buddha Triad)Treasure 1374Hanging Painting of Chukseosa TempleTreasure 1379Hanging Painting of Seonamsa Temple (Sakyamuni Buddha)Treasure 1419Hanging Painting and Flagpole Supports of Jeokcheonsa TempleTreasure 1432Hanging Painting of Yongmunsa Temple, Yecheon (The Vulture Peak Assembly)Treasure 1445Hanging Painting of Yongmunsa Temple, NamhaeTreasure 1446Hanging Painting of Yeongsusa Temple, Jincheon (The Vulture Peak Assembly)Treasure 1551Hanging Painting of Daeheungsa Temple, Haenam (The Vulture Peak Assembly)Treasure 1552Hanging Painting of Buseoksa Temple, Yeongju (Five Buddhas)Treasure 1562Hanging Painting of Seonseoksa Temple, Seongju (The Vulture Peak Assembly)Treasure 1608Hanging Painting of Bogyeongsa Temple, PohangTreasure 1609Hanging Painting of Gimnyongsa Temple, Mungyeong (The Vulture Peak Assembly)Treasure 1640Hanging Painting of Bongjeongsa Temple, Andong (The Vulture Peak Assembly)Treasure 1642Hanging Painting of Anjeongsa Temple, Tongyeong (The Vulture Peak Assembly)Treasure 1692Hanging Painting of Ssanggyesa Temple, HadongTreasure 1695Hanging Painting of Bongseonsa Temple, Namyangju (Vairocana Buddha Triad)Treasure 1792Hanging Painting of Yonghwasa Temple, TongyeongRegistered Cultural Heritage 622Hanging Painting of Dasolsa Temple, SacheonRegistered Cultural Heritage 623Hanging Painting of Uigoksa Temple, JinjuRegistered Cultural Heritage 624Hanging Painting of Hwaamsa Temple, WanjuRegistered Cultural Heritage 625Hanging Painting of Cheonhwangsa TempleRegistered Cultural Heritage 626Hanging Painting of a Buddhist AssemblyRegistered Cultural Heritage 627Hanging Painting of Donghwasa Temple, DaeguRegistered Cultural Heritage 628Hanging Painting of Daeseongam Hermitage, Goyang (Amitabha Buddha Triad)Registered Cultural Heritage 649
See also Taenghwa Thangka
References