Stone Seated Buddha in Hwanam-ri, Yeongcheon

This seated stone Buddha stands in the courtyard of Hangwangsa Temple in Yeongcheon, Gyeongsangbuk-do, together with the Three-story Stone Pagoda in Hwanam-ri, Yeongcheon. It was found at the time the pagoda was designated a treasure, during the dismantling and restoration of the pagoda: when one face of the base stone was opened, the Buddha was discovered enshrined inside, and it is now placed on its original pedestal. The tightly packed, small snail-shell curls of hair, the small round face, narrow shoulders and slight build together evoke the image of a monk sitting composedly in meditation. The robe draped over both shoulders falls long down the arms, forming parallel folds. At the abdomen the folds flow down in soft curves, covering the knees and legs. The hand gesture, with the right hand wrapped around the index finger of the left, shows that this statue represents the Buddha Vairocana. The pedestal on which the Buddha sits consists of an octagonal middle tier and upper and lower tiers carved with lotus patterns. Given its more standardised and delicate treatment compared with earlier statues, it is thought to have been made in the 10th century, during the Goryeo period.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Yeongcheon, Gyeongbuk

Designation

Treasure · 보물