Rock-carved Seated Buddha in Singye-ri, Namwon

This is a rock-carved Buddha that uses a huge boulder behind the body as its halo and the natural rock surface as its pedestal; it is carved in very high relief, giving it a rich sense of volume. Standing over 3 m tall, the image is in relatively good condition, and a legend holds that it was carved in a single night by State Preceptor Doseon. The topknot-shaped protuberance on the bare head is unusually large, and the two ears are short and round. The full, well-proportioned face, with eyes, nose and mouth rendered to suit it, appears lively yet dignified. The shoulders are broad and the chest well developed; although it is somewhat awkwardly over-rounded, the arms and legs retain a real sense of volume that gives the figure vitality. The robe bares the right shoulder and is draped only over the left, with the folds simplified into parallel lines. Both hands rest on the abdomen: the left hand shows its palm facing upward, while the right hand shows its back, with the index and little fingers extended. The head halo, rendered as a round, bead-like shape, is decorated with lotus petals; this bead-shaped head halo is unusual, with few other known examples, and has attracted particular attention. The richly modelled treatment of the face is characteristic of the late Unified Silla period, but the simplified detail in individual parts of the otherwise full body suggests that the image was made in the Goryeo period.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Namwon, Jeonbuk

Designation

Treasure · 보물