Wooden Seated Sakyamuni Buddha Triad of Bulgapsa Temple, Yeonggwang

This is a set of three wooden seated Buddha images enshrined in the Daeungjeon Hall of Bulgapsa Temple: Sakyamuni Buddha at the centre, flanked by the Medicine Buddha on the left and Amitabha Buddha on the right. As the principal image, Sakyamuni is the largest and most robust of the three, with broad knees that give it a stable, well-balanced appearance. The usnisa, the cranial protuberance symbolising wisdom, is not clearly delineated, but large finials are shown at its crown and centre, and the square face carries a gentle smile. The ears are elongated, hanging down to the shoulders, and the slightly thickened neck clearly shows the three folds known as samdo. The robe covers both shoulders but leaves the right arm bare, and its folds flow naturally down over the legs. The hands form the bhumisparsa mudra, the earth-touching gesture symbolising the subjugation of demons, and both hands are rendered so realistically that they resemble those of a living person. The Medicine Buddha and Amitabha share the same features as the principal Sakyamuni image in their details — an indistinct usnisa, a full face, clearly defined features, a voluminous and relaxed posture, realistically rendered hands, and naturally flowing drapery. The only differences are that they are somewhat smaller than the Sakyamuni image, their robes cover both shoulders without exposing the right arm, and their hands form the Amitabha mudra. A record of production found inside the statues shows that they were made in 1635 by ten monk artisans, including the monk Muyeom, along with Seungil, Dou and Seongsu. This is the earliest surviving work by the monk Muyeom, and it is regarded as a benchmark for understanding the output and stylistic trends of the Muyeom school, which was active widely across the Jeolla, Chungcheong and Gangwon regions.

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Where it is

Region

Yeonggwang, Jeonnam & Gwangju

Designation

Treasure · 보물