Daeungbojeon Hall Wooden Buddhas of the Three Ages Statue of Magoksa Temple, Gongju

These are the Buddha statues enshrined in the Daeungbojeon Hall of Magoksa Temple, head temple of the sixth district of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism. They form a set of Buddhas of the Three Ages — Sakyamuni, Amitabha, and Bhaisajyaguru (the Medicine Buddha) — a configuration that became established in Korean Buddhist statuary from the 17th century onward. Sakyamuni is enshrined at the centre, with Amitabha to the right and Bhaisajyaguru to the left. The central Sakyamuni forms the earth-touching gesture (hangma-chokjiin), with the left hand laid horizontally on the knee, its second and third fingers bent at almost a right angle. The Amitabha figure makes the middle-grade rebirth gesture (jungpum-hasaengin), and the Bhaisajyaguru figure makes the mirror image of the same gesture, though it holds no medicine box. Sakyamuni wears a modified form of the robe that bares and rounds over the right shoulder, while the two flanking Buddhas wear an undergarment (pyeonsam) beneath their robes. Apart from the manner of dress and hand gestures, the three Buddhas are almost identical in form: small and neat overall, with small faces and short bodily proportions. Characteristic features include the drapery folds flowing down from both shoulders, each reversing once as it falls to round off the hem of the outer robe; the folds falling below both knees with a steep, rushing sense of movement as they fold to either side; and the unusually large sleeve-hem depicted over the left knee. The usnisa (cranial protuberance) is flat, and the mid- and crown-cranial jewels were made separately and inserted. The face is round and small, and details such as the thin lips rendered almost as a straight line and the bent fingers are softer yet more realistic than in other Buddha statues of the same period. No sacred deposits associated with these statues have yet been surveyed, so their exact date of manufacture is unknown. However, the Daeungbojeon Hall in which they are enshrined is known to have been rebuilt in 1651 by the monk Gaksun and Yi Ju-yeon, magistrate of Gongju, so the statues may date from around the same time. Also, Unhye, who served as abbot of Magoksa Temple between 1650 and 1659, was a renowned master sculptor of the day, and the Sajeokgi (temple history record) notes that he served as chief supervisor, suggesting he directed this Buddhist project overall. It therefore seems highly likely that this triad was made in the mid-17th century. The Daeungbojeon Hall Wooden Buddhas of the Three Ages of Magoksa Temple, Gongju, display the characteristic features of the 17th century, yet differ from other Buddha statues of the period in their round, small faces with short proportions, their broad folds with softly rounded hems, and the unusually large sleeve-hem over the left knee. As one of the wooden Buddha triads representative of the 17th century, it is of outstanding artistic quality and high research value.

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Where it is

Region

Gongju, Chungnam

Designation

Provincial Tangible Heritage · 시도유형문화유산