Iron Seated Buddha of Silsangsa Temple, Namwon

A representative work of the late Unified Silla period, this well-known iron Buddha has been preserved since the founding of Silsangsa Temple. In the late Unified Silla period, iron Buddha statues were actively produced, centred on Seon (Zen) Buddhist temples in the provinces, and this statue is one such example, well expressing the sculptural style of the time. The head is skilfully carved with snail-shell-shaped curls, and atop the crown sits a modestly sized topknot-shaped protuberance (ushnisha). The ears are relatively long, and the three lines on the neck, known as samdo, are only faintly rendered. The narrowed forehead, the crescent-moon-shaped, fully open eyes, and the closed mouth give a solemn expression quite different from the lively, gentle appearance of earlier statues. The shoulder line is soft and the chest full-bodied, but overall the figure gives a somewhat heavy impression, and the robe, draped over both shoulders, also feels heavier towards the bottom. The drapery folds are rendered in short U-shapes, a technique popular at the time, giving a relatively natural appearance. With these features, the Iron Seated Buddha of Silsangsa Temple can be seen as a transitional work marking the change from the tense, vigorous Buddhist sculpture of the eighth century to the more relaxed, less dynamic sculpture of the ninth century.

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Where it is

Region

Namwon, Jeonbuk

Designation

Treasure · 보물