Standing Seongnamsa Temple Rock-carved Buddha

Carved into a rock face 7m high and 6.5m wide at the foot of a mountain about 1km from Seongnamsa Temple, this is a Goryeo-period rock-carved Buddha. It is a massive figure, with the lower body short in proportion to the upper body; the lack of pronounced bodily curves or volume gives it a somewhat flat appearance. The drapery in particular carries on the style of Unified Silla Buddha statues, carved with clear, crisp lines, and the work is presumed to be a fairly accomplished example from the early Goryeo period. A circular head halo (light radiating from the Buddha's head) in three concentric bands, and a body halo (light radiating from the Buddha's body) in three lines following the body's outline, are both rendered at length. On a single-tiered lotus pedestal with broad petals, five toes are shown. The bare head has a broad, low usnisha (the cranial protuberance marking a Buddha), and the square, broad face has small eyes, nose and mouth. The ears hang down long, while the neck is short and thick, marked with three heavy folds that suit the statue's massive impression. Broad-shouldered and imposing, the figure wears its outer robe over the left shoulder only, with a short fold draped over the right shoulder. At the abdomen the robe forms several gently curving U-shaped folds, and over both legs three-layered oval folds — a style that was popular in Unified Silla from around the 8th century onward. The weakened rendering of this style, however, shows that the statue was made in the Goryeo period. Both hands are raised to chest height, the right palm turned outward and the left showing its back, with the thumb and middle finger touching on each hand: this appears to represent the mudra of preaching, the gesture the Buddha makes while expounding the dharma.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Anseong, Gyeonggi

Designation

Provincial Tangible Heritage · 시도유형문화유산