Stone Seated Vairocana Buddha of Gagyeonsa Temple, Goesan

This is a complete Buddha statue, with both the pedestal on which it sits and a halo — a representation of the light radiating from the whole body — fully preserved. It depicts Vairocana Buddha, whose name signifies presiding over the entire world of truth. The head is covered with small snail-shell-shaped curls, and above them the topknot-shaped protuberance (usnisha) is so flattened and spread out that it is difficult to make out clearly. The robe, draped over the left shoulder only with the right shoulder bare, has simply rendered folds, and the folds over the legs in particular are extremely stylised. This treatment, together with the facial features, is directly linked to the Iron Seated Vairocana Buddha of Janggoksa Temple (Treasure). The hand gesture, in which the right hand wraps around the left index finger, is very awkward, and together with the robe covering only the left shoulder, this makes the right side of the statue appear even more perfunctory. The halo is pinched in at the middle, as if distinguishing a head halo from a body halo, giving it an overall teardrop shape. On the halo, three small Buddhas are carved above the head and three more on each side of the statue, with lotus and cloud patterns carved from the inside outward, and blazing flames depicted at the edge. It does not show the taut vitality and refined technique typical of statues from Silla's golden age, but as a whole presents an elegant yet ornate appearance, marking it as a work of the late Unified Silla period.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Goesan, Chungbuk

Designation

Treasure · 보물