Seonsan Gunggi-dong Stone Buddha Statue

This statue is a seated stone Buddha located within the grounds of Munsusa Temple, at San 68, Singok-ri, Dogae-myeon. It had stood in the schoolyard of Dogae Middle School but was moved to Munsusa Temple on 10 January 2008 owing to the school's expansion. The Buddha's body, its halo and its pedestal are carved from a single stone, though the upper part of the halo and the head are broken. The Buddha sits on a rectangular pedestal, with the hem of its robe hanging down to the base of the pedestal. Its right hand is raised to shoulder height holding a lotus stem, while its left hand rests on its abdomen; from the shape of the hands, the figure is thought to be an attendant bodhisattva of some principal Buddha. The stem of the lotus branch held in the right hand rises conspicuously from the waist, past the chest, and up to the halo, where a large lotus bud is carved in relief. Although the upper part of the halo has been cut away, it is thought to have originally been an oval shape coming to a point. Within the halo, vine scrolls, lotus motifs, flame motifs and small Buddhas are carved in relief. In particular, a small seated Buddha is incised in outline on the back of the halo as well, which is a very distinctive feature. Such relief figures on the back of a halo occasionally appear in the Unified Silla period, and this example shows that the practice continued into the Goryeo period. With its elegant, well-proportioned form and distinctive halo, the work displays well the characteristics of bodhisattva statues of its time.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Gumi, Gyeongbuk

Designation

Provincial Tangible Heritage · 시도유형문화유산