Seated Ilsan-dong Stone Buddha

Originally located at the site of a ruined temple in Jungang-dong, Wonju, the statues were moved to Chuwoldae on Namsan Mountain during the Japanese colonial period, relocated again to the site of the former Gangwon Provincial Office in May 1962, and have been displayed outdoors at the Bongsan-dong municipal museum since 2000. These stone Buddhas are enshrined identically on either side of a five-storey stone pagoda. The heads of both statues were lost and have since been newly restored, so their original appearance is not entirely clear, though the bodies are neat and well-proportioned. The robes covering both shoulders are thin, so the outline of the body shows through clearly, and the parallel folds of the drapery are somewhat stylised. Judging from the broken hands, brought together at the chest, the right hand appears to have wrapped around the index finger of the left hand. This hand gesture suggests that the statue represents Vairocana Buddha, believed to preside over and pervade the entire world of truth. The pedestal is a typical octagonal form in upper, middle and lower tiers: the upper tier is carved with a double layer of lotus petals, and the middle tier has corner pillars carved on each face, with bodhisattva figures carved between them. The lower tier is also carved with lotus petals, beneath which lies a large octagonal pillar-shaped stone decorated with lions, peonies and other motifs. Even from the surviving bodies alone, the excellent carving technique is evident, and the statues' neat proportions, refined forms and parallel drapery folds closely follow the late Silla style of Vairocana Buddha images, suggesting they were made at the latest in the early Goryeo period.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Wonju, Gangwon

Designation

Provincial Tangible Heritage · 시도유형문화유산