Stone Standing Amitabha Buddha of Gamsansa Temple, Gyeongju

Gamsansa Temple in Gyeongju was founded in 719, under King Seongdeok, by Kim Ji-seong, to pray for the repose of his parents and for the well-being of the king and the royal house. After its founding he is said to have made a Maitreya for his mother and an Amitabha for his father. Both are national treasures, held at the National Museum of Korea. The Amitabha is balanced and harmonious throughout, and close to human proportion in its realism. The face is full and the features refined, a realistic Silla face. The body is wrapped in a fairly heavy robe and the chest is not emphasised, but it is commanding and full of dignity — an attempt, it seems, to give the Buddha a human presence. The robe over both shoulders falls in U-shaped folds over the whole body. At the neck the collar is shown turned back once, a Silla characteristic that gives the image, with its overall form, real force. The mandorla behind is boat-shaped with flame at its edge; three raised lines divide halo from body aureole, and flowers are carved within the aureole. The pedestal is octagonal at the bottom, with inverted and open lotus above, simply and boldly carved. It is the most representative example of the idealised realism of Unified Silla, and the record on the back of its mandorla tells us exactly when and by whom it was made — which gives it a very important place in the history of Korean Buddhist sculpture.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Yongsan-gu, Seoul

Designation

National Treasure · 국보