Attendant to a King of Hell

Korea

19th century

Painted wood

Minneapolis Institute of Art

A carved and painted wooden statue depicts a standing figure wearing a hat and robes. The figure holds a scroll or document in its hands. In a Buddhist monastery, monks installed statues or paintings depicting the fierce Kings of Hell in the halls where they lived and studied. They offered prayers 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 like this one, who holds a long scroll on which the names and judgments would be recorded. The 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 lacquer