Yeongtapsayaksa Temple Buddha Statue

Carved in relief on a towering rock face at Yeongtapsa Temple on Sangwangsan Mountain, in Myeoncheon-myeon, Dangjin-gun, Chungcheongnam-do, this Buddha stands 3.5m high. According to legend, at the end of the Goryeo period Master Muhak, while inspecting the temple, noticed an unusual rock giving off light; sensing it was no ordinary thing, he had a Buddha image carved into it here and prayed for the peace of the nation. The head shows the hair gathered into a topknot, and the face, broad at the top and narrow at the bottom, is rather large in proportion to the body. The eyes, nose and mouth are long and large, rendered somewhat awkwardly, giving an overall impression of heaviness. Though lacking in refinement, this kind of face, which nonetheless conveys a sense of familiarity, is typical of the Buddha style common to the Chungcheong region from the Goryeo period onward. The body is square and sturdy, yet appears somewhat hunched, and the knees, too, are high and broad, adding to the heaviness of the face. The robe is draped over both shoulders, with a Y-shaped undergarment shown beneath it, and the drapery folds, carved in thick lines, are so worn that they no longer appear clearly. This work well displays the features of a localised, provincial Buddha style of the Goryeo period, at once heavy-set and approachable in feeling.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Dangjin, Chungnam

Designation

Provincial Tangible Heritage · 시도유형문화유산