Stele of Pensive Maitreya Bodhisattva

The Stele of Pensive Maitreya Bodhisattva is called a bisang (stele-image) because its form resembles a stone stele. The lower pedestal, the central four-sided stone and the upper capstone are all carved from a single piece of stone. Shaped like a T, the stele bears on its front face a large relief of a bodhisattva seated in the pensive pose, with the left foot lowered and the right foot resting on the left leg. Shown with the right hand raised to the cheek in thought, the bodhisattva wears an elaborate crown along with a necklace and beaded ornaments. On both side faces, standing bodhisattva images holding jewels in both hands and facing forward are carved; together with the pensive figure as the principal image, they appear to have been intended as a triad. On the back a large treasure pagoda (botap) is carved, and this suggests that the pensive figure on the front represents Maitreya Bodhisattva. On the square pedestal a round vase is placed at the centre with kneeling worshippers carved on either side, and kneeling worshippers facing forward are also carved on both side faces of the pedestal. This stone image is a valuable relic of the pensive-bodhisattva style, which developed extensively against the background of the widespread Maitreya faith of the Three Kingdoms period in Korea. Judging by the carving technique, it is thought to date, like the stone Amitabha Triad bearing the inscription of the Jeon clan and the date "Gyeyu Year" (a national treasure) found together with it at Biamsa Temple in Yeongi-gun, South Chungcheong Province, to the year 673. Made not long after the fall of Baekje in what had been its territory, these stone images offer a fine example for assessing the level of Baekje's stone sculptural art.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Cheongju, Chungbuk

Designation

Treasure · 보물