Gathering of Four Buddhas

The four Buddhas depicted in this painting are (from upper left, counterclockwise) Bhaishajyaguru, Amitabha, Shakyamuni and Maitreya, and together they represent the realm of omnipresent Buddha. The painting was commissioned by Yi Jonglin (李宗麟, 1538-1611), grandson of King Jungjong (中宗, r. 1506-1544) of the Joseon Dynasty, in order to pray for the repose of his maternal grandfather Gwon Chan (權贊), who died in 1560. The inscription on the bottom of the painting expresses wishes for the welfare of Yi Jonglin’s living parents and maternal grandmother, and commends the soul of Gwon Chan and six other relatives to the Buddha. This painting characterizes Buddhist beliefs from the early Joseon Dynasty, when these four Buddhas were commonly depicted. For instance, in 1565, under the royal patronage of Queen Munjeong (文定王后, 1501-1565, second queen of King Jungjong), 100 paintings (50 in gold and 50 in color) of each of these four Buddhas were made.

嘉靖壬戌六月日 豊山正李氏謹竭哀愫伏爲.

In the sixth month of the year of imsul (壬戌, 1562년), the Jiajing reign,

I, Pungsanjeong Yi Jonglin (李宗麟, 1538-1611), bow and make these wishes with a heavy heart.先考同知權贊靈駕 淑媛李氏靈駕 牧使朴諫兩位靈駕 女億春靈駕 男李氏靈駕

共脫生前積衆愆之因同證死後修九品之果.

May the souls of my maternal grandfather Gwon Chan (權贊, d. 1560); my grandmother Lady Yi (淑媛李氏); my father-in-law Governor Bak Gan (朴諫); my mother-in-law; my daughter Eokchun (億春); and my son escape the karma from all the faults that accumulated during their lifetime, proving that in the afterlife, they belong to the realm of the Nine Classes of Paradise.現存祖母貞敬夫人尹氏保体 德陽君兩位保体 成詢兩位保体 小主朴氏保体 李氏伯春保体 李氏敬春保体 李氏連春保体 各離灾殃俱崇福壽 亦爲己身時無百害之灾 日有千祥之慶 壽不中夭黃耈無疆.

In this world, may my maternal grandmother Lady Yun (貞敬夫人 尹氏); my father Prince Deogyang Yi Gi (德陽君 李岐, 1524-1581); my mother; Seong Sun (成詢) and his wife;  Lady Bak; Yi Baekchun (李伯春); Yi Gyeongchun (李敬春); and Yi Yeonchun (李連春) all avoid disasters and enjoy blessings and longevity. For myself, may I avoid any of 100 disasters but have 1000 happy events every day, and may I not die young but live a long, healthy life until I grow old.以眞黃金新畫成 西方阿弥陁佛一幀 彩畵四會幀一面 彩畵中壇幀一面 送安咸昌地上院寺以奉香火.

I dedicate a gold painting of Amitabha, a color painting of the Gathering of Four Buddhas, and a color painting for the middle altar, and send them to the Sangwonsa Temple in Hamchang-gun, to be enshrined and worshipped.云尒 願以此功德普及於一切我等與衆生皆共成佛道.

May this action spread merit all over, and may we and all other sentient beings attain Buddhahood together.