Jowang, the subject of this study, has been regarded as a god who presides over the kitchen and prays for good fortune and well-being for his children.In the 19th century of the Joseon Dynasty, it was incorporated into Sinjungdo, and the arrangement ...
Jowang, the subject of this study, has been regarded as a god who presides over the kitchen and prays for good fortune and well-being for his children.In the 19th century of the Joseon Dynasty, it was incorporated into Sinjungdo, and the arrangement is expressed symmetrically with the mountain gods.In the 20th century, King Jo, expressed in Sinjungdo, was separated and reconstructed as a single icon, which has been inherited to the present day. Jowangdo is mainly drawn as a picture, or in some cases it is replaced by writing the word ‘Namujowangdaeshin’.In this way, the Buddhist paintings depicting Jowang are mainly shown as a central figure or a single icon, and there is a difference in spatial arrangement and ritual.However, studies related to Jowang have been concentrated on investigating aspects of Jowang worship passed down in each region through regional surveys, or studies related to Jowang faith through the relationship with Taoism and literature.In this study, by supplementing this, we collected data on Buddhist paintings that personified and expressed Jowang, a deity in charge of the kitchen, during the late Joseon Dynasty and the modern era, a period of confusion and transformation in Korea, and analyzed the iconography style, and Jowangshin, who was not seen before the 19th century, was a formative painter. The cause of this problem is analyzed based on previous studies.In the 18th century, various folk deities such as Mountain God, Chilseong, Yongwang, Jowang, and Jeseok were incorporated into Sinjungdo, and in the 19th century, these gods form independent icons and are enshrined in separate spaces.Sansin is enshrined in Sansingak, Chilsung is enshrined in Chilseonggak, and Yongwang is enshrined in independent halls such as Yongwanggak.
However, King Jo is enshrined in the living space, Gongyanggan.Jakbeopgwigam talks about King Jo, who grants everything he wants, is auspicious both inside and outside, eliminates all kinds of diseases, clears good and evil, and protects the family.
『Seokmunuibeom』 is described as a god who covers people's good and evil.Also, it talks about the great minister of king Jo, the left assistant, Damsiyeoksa, and the right assistant, Jo Shikchwimo.Since Jowangdo is enshrined in a living space called an offering room, due to its nature, it is often damaged or destroyed and incinerated.Jo Wang-do appears as a case where a single image and an accompanying poem are drawn together. The single figure appears when Jowang sits on a chair alone or stands in an armed form.Representative examples of King Jo alone are <Jowangdo> in Hogukjijangsa in 1906 and <Jowangdo> in Pyochungsa in 1903. The Jowang of Hogukjijangsa is armed, and the Jowang of Pyochungsa wears a hat and an official uniform.
A representative example of drawing a side poem on the left and right of King Jo is the 1938 Heungcheonsa <Jowangdo>. Accompanying poems are Damsihisa and Jo Shikchwimo, which are mentioned in 『Seokmunuibeom』.Jowang's materials are typically a brush, paper, and five-colored wooden pieces. The five-color woodpyeon consists of five colors and represents the five elements and the five directions.Jowang holding the Five Elements can be found in Shinjudo in the late Joseon Dynasty, such as the 1790 Jijangam Sinjeongdo of Hyeondeungsa Temple, the 1859 Banyaam Sinjeongdo, and the 1892 Cheongryeonam Sinshindo. The attendant is holding an offering or holding an axe. So far, we have looked into the characteristics of Jowang faith and Jowangdo iconography.