Detail View: The AMICA Library: Attendant to the King of Hell

AMICA ID: 
MIA_.97.122.2
AMICA Library Year: 
2003
Object Type: 
Sculpture
Creator Nationality: 
Korea
Creator Name-CRT: 
Korea
Title: 
Attendant to the King of Hell
View: 
Front
Creation Date: 
19th century
Creation Start Date: 
1800
Creation End Date: 
1900
Materials and Techniques: 
Painted wood
Classification Term: 
Sculpture
Dimensions: 
H.29-3/8 x W.12-5/8 x D.8-7/8 in.
AMICA Contributor: 
The Minneapolis Institute of Arts
Owner Location: 
Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
ID Number: 
97.122.2
Credit Line: 
Gift of funds from Fred and Ellen Wells
Rights: 
Context: 
Subsidiary halls within Buddhist monastic complexes often featured statues or paintings depicting the fierce Kings of Hell. Here, prayers were offered in an attempt to mitigate the punishments meted out on the souls of the deceased. In addition to painted and sculptural images of the Kings of Hell, artists also depicted attendant figures. This wooden sculpture represents one such figure, holding a long scroll on which the names and judgments would be recorded. The charming, simplified carving style and compact form of the figure are characteristic of Korean folk sculpture. In an interesting mixture of religious beliefs, the figure is dressed in the robes and lacquered hat of a Confucian scholar-official.
Related Image Identifier Link: 
MIA_.16991c.tif