Wooden Seated Amitabha Buddha and Excavated Relics of Suguksa Temple, Seoul

Suguksa Temple is a royal votive temple built in 1459 (the fifth year of King Sejo) near the tomb of Crown Prince Uigyeong - King Sejo's eldest son, who died young at the age of twenty and was posthumously honoured as "King Deokjong" - in order to console his spirit; his tomb was later elevated in status to Hongneung Royal Tomb. At its founding the temple was named Jeonginsa Temple, but after Queen Sohye rebuilt it in 1471 (the second year of King Seongjong) it was renamed Suguksa Temple. Throughout the Joseon period it managed the Seooreung Royal Tombs (Changneung, Gyeongneung, Myeongneung, Ingneung and Hongneung) and served as a temple for praying for the peace of the royal family and for health and longevity. The exact date of production of the Wooden Seated Amitabha Buddha of Suguksa Temple cannot be determined, as no votive text recording its date survives, but its dignified face, sturdy and well-proportioned form, manner of wearing two layers of robes, and natural yet distinctive drapery folds share stylistic features with statues made between the 13th century and the first half of the 14th century. In particular, the face and body, which convey strength and gravity, together with the short, densely gathered folds flowing down from the left shoulder to form a narrow, doubled omega (Ω)-shaped fold, and the simply rendered seunggakgi (the sash-like undergarment at the chest, shown here without metal fittings), invite comparison with statues of the mid- to late 13th century such as the Amitabha Buddha of Gaesimsa Temple, Seosan (repaired 1280), the Amitabha Buddha of Gaeunsa Temple, Seoul (c. 1274), and the dry-lacquer seated Amitabha Buddha of Simhyangsa Temple, Naju. In particular, the weighty, sturdily masculine formal beauty felt in this statue reveals a current and aesthetic sensibility in Buddhist sculpture distinct from the strand of late-Goryeo aristocratic taste that pursued a neat, compact beauty of form, making it highly significant.

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Where it is

Region

Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul

Designation

Treasure · 보물