<em>Boy Attendants (Dong-ja), Pair of Figures</em>, 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). 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)

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). 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)

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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!

Boy Attendants (Dong-ja), Pair of Figures

Asian Art

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.

MEDIUM Polychromed wood

Place Made: Korea

DATES 18th century

DYNASTY Joseon Dynasty

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) (show scale)

COLLECTIONS Asian Art

ACCESSION NUMBER 83.174.1-.2

CREDIT LINE Gift of Dr. and Mrs. Stanley L. Wallace

MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view

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). 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)

IMAGE overall, 83.174.1-.2_PS11.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2016

"CUR" at the beginning of an image file name means that the image was created by a curatorial staff member. These study images may be digital point-and-shoot photographs, when we don\'t yet have high-quality studio photography, or they may be scans of older negatives, slides, or photographic prints, providing historical documentation of the object.

RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY

You may download and use Brooklyn Museum images of this three-dimensional work in accordance with a Creative Commons license. Fair use, as understood under the United States Copyright Act, may also apply. Please include caption information from this page and credit the Brooklyn Museum. If you need a high resolution file, please fill out our online application form (charges apply). For further information about copyright, we recommend resources at the United States Library of Congress, Cornell University, Copyright and Cultural Institutions: Guidelines for U.S. Libraries, Archives, and Museums, and Copyright Watch. For more information about the Museum's rights project, including how rights types are assigned, please see our blog posts on copyright. If you have any information regarding this work and rights to it, please contact copyright@brooklynmuseum.org.

RECORD COMPLETENESS

Not every record you will find here is complete. More information is available for some works than for others, and some entries have been updated more recently. Records are frequently reviewed and revised, and we welcome any additional information you might have.

Download our app and ask your own questions during your visit. Here are some that others have asked.

Who are these fellows?

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?

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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Boy Attendants (Dong-ja), Pair of Figures

Asian Art

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Asian Art

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