National Intangible Cultural Heritage, Republic of Korea Sagyeongjang can refer to either the art of copying Buddhist texts or to the masters of this art. Sutra copying enjoyed its heyday during the Goryeo Dynasty when Buddhism gained widespread popularity. During the reign of King Chungnyeol, the Goryeo court dispatched to China hundreds of Buddhist monks trained in sutra copying. Although sutra copying declined during the Joseon era with the adoption of Confucianism as the governing philosophy, the Buddhist practice lived on with the support of certain royal family members and Buddhist temples. The ink transcription of the Avatamsaka Sutra (Flower Garland Sutra) from the Unified Silla era, designated National Treasure, is the oldest surviving artifact in Korea testifying to the sutra copying practice. The art of sutra copying is generally comprised of three parts: transcribing text, reproducing byeonsangdo paintings, and decorating the cover with a design of Buddhist figures or plants. It is further divided into 10 different steps: color formation with gold powder, glue making, surface treatment of the paper, paper cutting, connecting paper sheets, line drawing, writing text by hand, drawing byeonsangdo paintings, decorating the cover with a drawing, and treating the cover with gold powder. It demands expert knowledge of calligraphy, Chinese characters, Buddhist theory, and painting. Furthermore, intense concentration over long periods is essential. * Sagyeong (寫經): The practice of transcribing Buddhist scriptures or the resulting transcripts. Sutra copying is intended to disseminate Buddhist texts or cultivate merit. * Byeonsangdo (變相圖): Paintings illustrating the teachings of the Buddha

National Intangible Cultural Heritage, Republic of Korea Bulhwajang refers to the art of Buddhist painting or an artist who is skilled in such art. Buddhist paintings are considered objects of worship along with pagodas and Buddhist statues. Based on their forms, Buddhist paintings can be categorized as taenghwa (hanging paintings), gyeonghwa (sutra paintings), and byeokhwa (mural paintings). In particular, taenghwa are hung behind the Buddhist altar after holding a number of religious ceremonies. These hanging paintings, found at traditional temples, are the major form of Buddhist painting in Korea; the monks in charge of producing the paintings go by several names such as geumeo, hwaseung, hwasa, or hwawon. The art of Buddhist painting was formerly handed down by the holders of Dancheongjang (Ornamental Painting). Considering the differences in technique and function, however, it has now been separated from the ornamental painting to form its own category. Therefore, Buddhist painting and ornamental painting are being taught and handed down as two separate categories. The colorful ornamental paintwork at Buddhist temples and palace buildings is clearly different from Buddhist painting in purpose and expression. While it is used to decorate the walls and structural members of wooden buildings with geometric patterns and drawings, Buddhist painting refers mainly to the production of paintings, expressing Buddhist doctrine in an easy-to-understand manner.