Dry-lacquered Bodhisattva of Girimsa Temple, Gyeongju

The Dry-lacquered Bodhisattva of Girimsa Temple, Gyeongju is a Joseon-period dry-lacquer seated bodhisattva image enshrined at Girimsa Temple in Yangbuk-myeon, Wolseong County, North Gyeongsang Province (present-day Gyeongju). A dry-lacquer Buddha is one made by building a wooden framework, wrapping it in hemp cloth, coating it with clay, and then removing the wooden core from inside; very few such examples survive in Korea, which makes this image especially valuable. A separate jewelled crown is set on top of the coiled hair, its surface richly carved with a vine-scroll pattern. The face is round and full, with the eyes, nose and mouth rendered elegantly to create a face typical of bodhisattva images. A heavenly robe is draped over both shoulders, and around the neck is a necklace with three strands of ornaments. The distinctive knotted sash across the chest is characteristic of wooden Buddha images of the Joseon period. The left hand rests on the pedestal, and the legs are lowered below it in the posture known as bangajwa (half cross-legged sitting); this posture suggests that the image represents the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara. Overall, the face and body appear dignified, but the hands and feet are made small, giving a somewhat unbalanced sense of proportion. An inscription on the pedestal records that it was made in the fourteenth year of the Hongzhi era, the seventh year of King Yeonsangun (1501), and as a rare surviving example of a dry-lacquer Buddha, it is a work of great value.

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Visiting

Opening hours

Winter season 08:00-17:00 / Summer season 08:00-18:00

Closed

N/A (open all year round)

Admission

Individuals - Adults 3,000 won / Teenagerss 2,000 won / Children 1,500 won<br> Groups - Adults 3,000 won / Teenagers 1,500 won / Children 1,200 won<br><br> * Groups: 20 people or more (not valid for adults)<br> * Free admission: senior citizens (ages 65 & older), people with a disability

Parking

Available

Information

• 1330 Travel Hotline: +82-2-1330<br> (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese) <br> • For more info: +82-54-744-2292

Visitor information: Korea Tourism Organization · KOGL Type 1

Where it is

Region

Gyeongju, Gyeongbuk

Designation

Treasure · 보물