Stone Standing Buddha at Manboksa Temple Site, Namwon

This is a granite Buddha statue, 2 m in height, standing at the site of Manboksa Temple in Namwon, Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province. Manboksa Temple was founded during the reign of King Munjong of Goryeo (r. 1046–1083), and this stone standing Buddha is presumed to have been made at the same time as the temple's founding. According to the Dongguk yeoji seungnam, Manboksa Temple had a five-storey hall to the east and a two-storey hall to the west, with a gilt-bronze Buddha 35 cheok tall inside; this record shows that Manboksa was a very large temple. Atop the bare head rises a round, topknot-shaped protuberance (ushnisha). The full, oval face, with its naturally rendered eyes, nose and mouth, gives a benign impression. The curves running from the shoulders down the arms, and the contours of the body, are also rendered very smoothly and gently. The robe draped over both shoulders has a distinctive folded collar resembling a round collar, below which rounded drapery folds are shown. The right arm appears to have been raised with the palm shown, while the left arm was lowered, also showing the palm. The hands were made separately to be attached, but both are now missing. The halo (gwangbae) consists of a head halo and a body halo, divided by a thick line. The head halo, whose upper part is missing, is carved with fully bloomed lotus petals and lotus stems, while the body halo is carved with lotus stems only. Outside these, flame patterns are carved, and on either side are two small Buddha figures each. The Stone Standing Buddha at Manboksa Temple Site, Namwon, shows a very benign and gentle character in its face and body, but the drapery folds and the posture of the body appear somewhat unnatural. It is a work that shows the declining style of Buddhist sculpture as it passed from the Unified Silla period into the Goryeo period.

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Where it is

Region

Namwon, Jeonbuk

Designation

Treasure · 보물