Collection
/
Asian Art

Boy Attendants (Dong-ja), Pair of Figures

18th century

1 of 6

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. (Photo: Brooklyn Museum)

Gallery

Not on view

Collection

Asian Art

Title

Boy Attendants (Dong-ja), Pair of Figures

Date

18th century

Dynasty

Joseon Dynasty

Geography

Place made: Korea

Medium

Polychromed wood

Classification

Sculpture

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

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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