Stone Seated Buddha at Jeongnimsa Temple Site, Buyeo

This stone Buddha statue remains at the Jeongnimsa Temple Site in Buyeo, South Chungcheong Province, standing face to face across the site with the Five-story Stone Pagoda at Jeongnimsa Temple Site, Buyeo (a national treasure). Jeongnimsa Temple was first founded in the mid-sixth century and flourished until the fall of Baekje; it is thought to have flourished again in the Goryeo period, and this stone Buddha reflects that Goryeo-period prosperity. The present head and crown are not original to its creation but appear to have been remade and added at a later date. The body has suffered such severe damage and wear that only its outline remains, making it difficult to identify details of style and technique, but the flat, sloping shoulders give the figure a slight build. Judging from the narrowed shoulders and the left hand raised to the chest, the statue is presumed to represent Vairocana Buddha, with the right hand wrapped around the index finger of the left. The pedestal on which the Buddha sits is octagonal, formed of upper, middle and lower tiers, and clearly shows more careful workmanship than the statue itself. The upper tier takes the shape of a fully bloomed lotus, and the octagonal middle tier is carved on each face with a large eye-shaped motif. The lower tier depicts inverted lotus petals and blind-baluster niches (ansang) layered three deep. The spot where the statue now stands was the site of the lecture hall of the Baekje-period Jeongnimsa Temple, and inscribed roof tiles found here indicate that the statue was installed as the temple's principal Buddha when it was rebuilt in the Goryeo period.

AI Translation

Visiting

Opening hours

March-October 09:00-18:00 / November-February 09:00-17:00

Closed

January 1, the day of Seollal (Lunar New Year's Day) & Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving) holidays * Refer to the website for more details

Admission

free

Parking

Available(Free)

Information

+82-41-830-3952<br>+82-41-832-2721

Visitor information: Korea Tourism Organization · KOGL Type 1

Where it is

Region

Buyeo, Chungnam

Designation

Treasure · 보물