Interior of Gakhwangjeon

National Treasure #67, Hwaeomsa Temple
Jirisan National Park, Korea

Gakhwangjeon's interior is notable for its original 1703 wood ceiling and altar statues, the latter executed by Saengnan. The buddhas are Prabhutaratna, Sakyamuni, and Amitabha, representing the Buddhas of the Past, Present, and Future. They are attended by standing Bodhisattva statues of Avalokitesvara, Samantabhadra, Manjusri and Ksitigarbha. The paintings behind the altar were executed much later, in 1860. The small animals (lions?) climbing up the base of the statues seem very odd; I have not seen their like in other temples.