Buddhist Edibles in Chosŏn Korea: Consuming Images and Visualizing the Sacred

Paper talismans were among the most frequently ingested medicines in the premodern Buddhist world. Within the diverse forms of “Buddhist edibles,” this paper examines talismans from the Chosŏn period that were specifically employed to counteract gu poisoning, one of the most potent and feared toxins in premodern East Asia. The first half of the paper analyzes the visual elements of gu talismans, demonstrating how the deliberate arrangement of symbolic and textual components contributed to their perceived therapeutic efficacy. The latter half explores the inverse process—ingesting the talismans—to illuminate the interplay between the revelation and concealment of their visual potency. By situating this practice within the broader discourse on iconophages, this study foregrounds an understudied dimension of the “internal visualization” of healing talismans, offering new insights into their role within the material life cycle of powerful ritual objects such as paper talismans.