Standing Bonghwa Bongseong-ri Stone Buddha

This Buddha statue stands in Bongseong-ri, Bongseong-myeon, Bonghwa-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do. Its body was carved from a huge rock face, while its head was made from a separate stone and set on top. Making the head from a separate stone is a practice occasionally found in the Goryeo period, and this statue is considered to belong to the same tradition. The edge of the rock itself, which represents the halo (gwangbae) behind the head, is badly broken. The head alone is a massive 1.27 m tall, giving the statue an imposing scale, and the face is rather long. Thick eyebrows sit close against a narrow forehead, and the eyes have an amusing, laughing expression. The nose is so long that it reaches almost to the chin, leaving barely enough room for the mouth, and the cheeks are unusually full, giving the whole a strong flavour of folk craftsmanship. The huge, slightly hunched upper body is powerful, and the hands, raised to the chest with thumb and middle finger touching, are rendered with comparatively refined carving technique. The robe, covering both shoulders, is carved with broad, rounded U-shaped folds in fine lines, while the lower body is buried in the ground, so that its drapery cannot be made out — an unfinished work. Despite its massive form of over three metres and its strong folk flavour, the statue also shows refined technique and an unusual hand gesture, and it is valued as an important example of regional sculpture.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Bonghwa, Gyeongbuk

Designation

Provincial Tangible Heritage · 시도유형문화유산