This painting of the eminent monk Ch’ônghodang is a rare early example of a portrait of a Korean Buddhist monk and one of several surviving copies of a now-lost portrait of Ch’ônghodang executed during his lifetime. The artist's careful delineation of the monk's face was intended to give a realistic appearance to the subject. Painted portraits of revered monks, particularly those of patriarchs or founders of doctrinal schools, were enshrined in Buddhist temples.

When Buddhism was repressed by the Chosôn government in favor of Neo-Confucianism, Ch’ônghodang restored order to the community of monks and wrote the basic text that is still followed by members of the Sôn (Chinese: Chan; Japanese: Zen) order. In addition to being a pivotal leader of the Chosôn Buddhist establishment, Ch’ônghodang led an army of Buddhist monks against Japanese invasion forces in the late sixteenth century and helped to recover the Chosôn capital, Hanyang (modern Seoul).

Open full-size image