Grotto of Amitabha Buddha Triad, Gunwi

An early Unified Silla cave temple made in a natural cave in a cliff of Palgongsan Mountain in Gunwi, Daegu; it is older than the artificial grotto of Seokguram in Gyeongju (a national treasure). It holds a stone Buddha triad made around 700. The principal Buddha sits on a square pedestal with both feet on the opposite knees, soles upward. A large topknot rises from the plain head, and the face is large for the body, with a look of authority in place of the friendly smile of Three Kingdoms period images. The robe is worn thin, clearly revealing the contours of a commanding body, and its hem runs over the broad knees and hangs down below the pedestal. The right hand rests on the knee with the fingers pointing to the ground, in the gesture of subduing demons and calling the earth to witness. The bodhisattvas either side, in the same style, wear crowns carved with a small Buddha and a water vessel respectively. They wear necklaces on the chest and bracelets on the arms, and their robes fall in long U-shaped folds. Their slender figures and proportions, and the twist at neck, waist and legs, show the newly adopted style of Tang China. Made in the transition from Three Kingdoms to Unified Silla sculpture, the triad has high value for cultural history, and as a true cave temple — the natural rock cut into and Buddhas set within — it holds an important place in the history of Buddhist art.

AI Translation

Visiting

Opening hours

Open 24 hr

Closed

N/A (Open all year round)

Admission

Free

Parking

Available

Information

• 1330 Travel Hotline: +82-2-1330 <br>(Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese) <br>• For more info: +82-54-383-8032

Visitor information: Korea Tourism Organization · KOGL Type 1

Where it is

Region

Gunwi, Daegu

Designation

National Treasure · 국보