Large-scale banner paintings (t'aenghwa) such as the one in the Asia Society's collection became popular in Korea during the 17th and 18th centuries. The size and iconography of this painting suggest that it was originally an important image in a monastery. Most likely it was made to hang behind a statue of Buddha Shakyamuni and would have been displayed in a hall dedicated to the Lotus Sutra or in some other major building within a temple complex.