Stone Relief of Apsaras, Sangju

Together with a lotus-shaped pedestal stone and pagoda stone fragments that stood outside the shelter, this relief had been kept inside Yonghwajeon Hall in Namseong-dong, Sangju, until it was moved to Namsan Park (San 2-1, Sinbong-dong) in October 1982, and was then relocated to Sangju Museum for storage as of 20 June 2007. On two broad slabs of granite, a musician figure 1.27 m high and an offering-bearer figure 1.23 m high are carved in relief. The musician figure faces left, playing a pipa (a plucked lute); wearing a flower crown, the head bowed forward and one foot stepped ahead, it takes a supple, graceful pose. Its playing expression is elegant with a faint smile, and the two hands plucking the pipa are rendered delicately and realistically. The garment draped over the shoulders ripples and flutters to either side as if blown by the wind, giving it a strong sense of movement. The lower garment falls in folds, and ribbons hanging from beneath the upper garment are shown streaming to either side as though caught in the wind. The offering-bearer figure is shown facing right, holding up a lotus bud with the right hand, rendered in a natural and lively manner. It is not known what the two stone figures were originally used for, but their dress provides important material for the study of costume of the period, and they are presumed to date from around the 8th century.

AI Translation

Visiting

Visitor information: Korea Tourism Organization · KOGL Type 1

Where it is

Region

Sangju, Gyeongbuk

Designation

Treasure · 보물