Boy Attendants (Dong-ja), Pair of Figures
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Object Label
Small carved-wood statues of young servants were a common sight in Korean Buddhist temples, where they appeared at the foot of larger sculptures of Buddhist deities. These boy attendants, known as dongja, are usually shown bringing gifts to the gods: here one boy brings a turtle (a symbol of longevity), while the other has a covered tray, presumably containing food. Each is carved from a single block of wood; scientific testing of the wood indicates that it was allowed to dry for as long as two hundred years before being carved. This long tempering process reduced the risk of cracking.
Caption
Boy Attendants (Dong-ja), Pair of Figures, 18th century. Polychromed wood, 83.174.1: 19 7/8 x 9 1/2 x 8 1/2 in. (50.5 x 24.1 x 21.6 cm) 83.174.2: 19 11/16 x 9 1/2 x 8 1/2 in. (50 x 24.1 x 21.6 cm) base: 1 1/8 x 9 1/2 x 8 1/2 in. (2.9 x 24.1 x 21.6 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Dr. and Mrs. Stanley L. Wallace, 83.174.1-.2. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 83.174.1-.2_PS11.jpg)
Gallery
Not on view
Collection
Gallery
Not on view
Collection
Title
Boy Attendants (Dong-ja), Pair of Figures
Date
18th century
Dynasty
Joseon Dynasty
Geography
Place made: Korea
Medium
Polychromed wood
Classification
Dimensions
83.174.1: 19 7/8 x 9 1/2 x 8 1/2 in. (50.5 x 24.1 x 21.6 cm) 83.174.2: 19 11/16 x 9 1/2 x 8 1/2 in. (50 x 24.1 x 21.6 cm) base: 1 1/8 x 9 1/2 x 8 1/2 in. (2.9 x 24.1 x 21.6 cm)
Credit Line
Gift of Dr. and Mrs. Stanley L. Wallace
Accession Number
83.174.1-.2
Rights
Creative Commons-BY
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Frequent Art Questions
Who are these fellows?
In Korean, these boys are called "dongja," which is often translated as "Immortal Child." They are thought to be attendants to one of the Ten Kings of the Underworld. They also played an active role in the physical world, recording people’s good and bad deeds which will decide the fate of their soul when they die.The label says these were carved from wood that was left to dry for 200 years. Who let the wood dry for that long? Was someone regulating this? Did they just find the wood?
Temples and sculpting workshops stockpiled wood for future use. The older the wood, the less likely it was to crack while carving. The 200 year date on the wood used for these sculptures may be unusual, but more testing needs to be done before an average “wood age” can be established.Thanks!!I see a lot of turtles in Korean art. Does the turtle hold special significance?
Turtles are, in fact, a symbol of longevity because they can live for a long time.This little creature appears to be clawing its master. Why?
It's not clawing at him, although it may seem that way. These two figures are attendants to Buddhist deities and they are often shown bringing them gifts!In this case the gift is a turtle, a potent symbol of longevity in Korean iconography. You'll notice that the other figure is carrying a tray of food!
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