# Gwaebul

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.
| Name | Designation Status |
| Hanging Painting of Chiljangsa Temple (Five Buddhas) | National Treasure 296 |
| Hanging Painting of Ansimsa Temple (The Vulture Peak Assembly) | National Treasure 297 |
| Hanging Painting of Gapsa Temple (Buddha Triad) | National Treasure 298 |
| Hanging Painting of Sinwonsa Temple (Rocana Buddha) | National Treasure 299 |
| Hanging Painting of Janggoksa Temple (Maitreya Buddha) | National Treasure 300 |
| Hanging Painting of Hwaeomsa Temple (The Vulture Peak Assembly) | National Treasure 301 |
| Hanging Painting of Cheonggoksa Temple (The Vulture Peak Assembly) | National Treasure 302 |
| Buddhist Hanging Painting of Cheongnyangsan Mountain | Treasure 1210 |
| Hanging Painting of Chiljangsa Temple (Buddha Triad) | Treasure 1256 |
| Hanging Painting of Cheongnyongsa Temple (The Vulture Peak Assembly) | Treasure 1257 |
| Hanging Painting of Bosalsa Temple (The Vulture Peak Assembly) | Treasure 1258 |
| Hanging Painting of Beopjusa Temple | Treasure 1259 |
| Hanging Painting of Magoksa Temple (Sakyamuni Buddha) | Treasure 1260 |
| Hanging Painting of Gwangdeoksa Temple (Rocana Buddha) | Treasure 1261 |
| Hanging Painting of Yongbongsa Temple (The Vulture Peak Assembly) | Treasure 1262 |
| Hanging Painting of Sudeoksa Temple (Rocana Buddha) | Treasure 1263 |
| Hanging Painting of Gaesimsa Temple (The Vulture Peak Assembly) | Treasure 1264 |
| Hanging Painting of Muryangsa Temple (Maitreya Buddha) | Treasure 1265 |
| Hanging Painting of Geumdangsa Temple | Treasure 1266 |
| Hanging Painting of Anguksa Temple (The Vulture Peak Assembly) | Treasure 1267 |
| Hanging Painting of Naesosa Temple (The Vulture Peak Assembly) | Treasure 1268 |
| Hanging Painting and the Sketch of Gaeamsa Temple (The Vulture Peak Assembly) | Treasure 1269 |
| Hanging Painting of Eunhaesa Temple | Treasure 1270 |
| Hanging Painting of Sudosa Temple (Rocana Buddha) | Treasure 1271 |
| Hanging Painting of Bukjangsa Temple (The Vulture Peak Assembly) | Treasure 1278 |
| Hanging Painting of Jungnimsa Temple (Sakyamuni Buddha) | Treasure 1279 |
| Hanging Painting of Yulgoksa Temple | Treasure 1316 |
| Hanging Painting and Storage Chest of Unheungsa Temple | Treasure 1317 |
| Hanging Painting of Heungguksa Temple (Rocana Buddha) | Treasure 1331 |
| Hanging Painting of Odeoksa Temple | Treasure 1339 |
| Hanging Painting of Cheoneunsa Temple | Treasure 1340 |
| Hanging Painting of Dorimsa Temple | Treasure 1341 |
| Hanging Painting of Mihwangsa Temple | Treasure 1342 |
| Hanging Painting of Dabosa Temple | Treasure 1343 |
| Hanging Painting of Geumtapsa Temple | Treasure 1344 |
| Hanging Painting of Manyeonsa Temple | Treasure 1345 |
| Hanging Painting of Tongdosa Temple (Sakyamuni Buddha) | Treasure 1350 |
| Hanging Painting of Tongdosa Temple | Treasure 1351 |
| Hanging Painting of Yongheungsa Temple (Buddha Triad) | Treasure 1374 |
| Hanging Painting of Chukseosa Temple | Treasure 1379 |
| Hanging Painting of Seonamsa Temple (Sakyamuni Buddha) | Treasure 1419 |
| Hanging Painting and Flagpole Supports of Jeokcheonsa Temple | Treasure 1432 |
| Hanging Painting of Yongmunsa Temple, Yecheon (The Vulture Peak Assembly) | Treasure 1445 |
| Hanging Painting of Yongmunsa Temple, Namhae | Treasure 1446 |
| Hanging Painting of Yeongsusa Temple, Jincheon (The Vulture Peak Assembly) | Treasure 1551 |
| Hanging Painting of Daeheungsa Temple, Haenam (The Vulture Peak Assembly) | Treasure 1552 |
| Hanging Painting of Buseoksa Temple, Yeongju (Five Buddhas) | Treasure 1562 |
| Hanging Painting of Seonseoksa Temple, Seongju (The Vulture Peak Assembly) | Treasure 1608 |
| Hanging Painting of Bogyeongsa Temple, Pohang | Treasure 1609 |
| Hanging Painting of Gimnyongsa Temple, Mungyeong (The Vulture Peak Assembly) | Treasure 1640 |
| Hanging Painting of Bongjeongsa Temple, Andong (The Vulture Peak Assembly) | Treasure 1642 |
| Hanging Painting of Anjeongsa Temple, Tongyeong (The Vulture Peak Assembly) | Treasure 1692 |
| Hanging Painting of Ssanggyesa Temple, Hadong | Treasure 1695 |
| Hanging Painting of Bongseonsa Temple, Namyangju (Vairocana Buddha Triad) | Treasure 1792 |
| Hanging Painting of Yonghwasa Temple, Tongyeong | Registered Cultural Heritage 622 |
| Hanging Painting of Dasolsa Temple, Sacheon | Registered Cultural Heritage 623 |
| Hanging Painting of Uigoksa Temple, Jinju | Registered Cultural Heritage 624 |
| Hanging Painting of Hwaamsa Temple, Wanju | Registered Cultural Heritage 625 |
| Hanging Painting of Cheonhwangsa Temple | Registered Cultural Heritage 626 |
| Hanging Painting of a Buddhist Assembly | Registered Cultural Heritage 627 |
| Hanging Painting of Donghwasa Temple, Daegu | Registered Cultural Heritage 628 |
| Hanging Painting of Daeseongam Hermitage, Goyang (Amitabha Buddha Triad) | Registered Cultural Heritage 649 |