Stone Seated Vairocana Buddha in Mulgeol-ri, Hongcheon

Besides the Stone Seated Vairocana Buddha made in the late Unified Silla period, Daeseungsa Temple also holds a stone seated Buddha image and four pedestals and mandorlas. The head is covered with small snail-shell-shaped curls, above which rises a large topknot-shaped hair bun. The face, slightly bowed, is full but has a pointed chin, giving a neat, composed impression. The robe covers both shoulders and has clearly lost any sense of tension or elasticity, hanging in a somewhat crude and heavy manner. The folds of the robe run from the shoulders down the arms to the knees, but are rendered as parallel lines, giving a somewhat formulaic treatment. The hands are held with the left hand wrapped around the index finger of the right hand, the reverse of the hand gesture usually taken by Vairocana Buddha images. The pedestal on which the Buddha sits is an octagonal lotus pedestal: lotus patterns are carved on the upper and lower tiers, while the middle tier bears carvings of figures making offerings to the Buddha, musicians playing instruments, and incense burners. Compared with eighth-century Buddha images, the flat, volumeless body and the heavy, slack robe folds with no sense of tension show that this work is typical of the Vairocana Buddha style that was popular in the late ninth century.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Hongcheon, Gangwon

Designation

Treasure · 보물