Yongin Hwaunsa Temple Wooden Buddha Seated (Amita,yaksa Temple)

Though now enshrined separately in the Daeungjeon Hall and the meditation hall of Hwaunsa Temple, these two statues were originally made together as a set of the Three Buddhas of the Three Ages. "Three Buddhas" can mean the Buddhas of the past, present and future, or the present world together with the eastern and western worlds. In Joseon-period temples it was common to place Sakyamuni Buddha at the centre, with the Medicine Buddha to his left and Amitabha Buddha to his right. The two wooden statues at Hwaunsa Temple are similar in size, expression, costume and drapery, showing that they were carved together as part of such a set. Ink inscriptions reading "Buddha of the West" and "Buddha of the East" are written on their bases, identifying them respectively as Amitabha Buddha (west) and the Medicine Buddha (east). Both statues have hands carved separately and fitted on, with thumb and middle finger joined and raised or lowered, though the two face in opposite directions. When the two statues were regilded (given a fresh layer of gold leaf on the surface), a votive text bearing the donor's name and a sutra were found inside the Daeungjeon statue (Amitabha), while a sutra, incense wrapped in silk and a bundle of five grains were found inside the meditation-hall statue (the Medicine Buddha). Records indicate that both statues were moved here from Geumsansa Temple in the 1960s. The large cylindrical and half-moon-shaped topknot bead at the crown and centre of the head, the square face and body proportions, the posture with the upper body tilted slightly back and the head inclined slightly forward, and the broad, simple drapery folds all clearly show the characteristics of late-Joseon Buddhist sculpture. Judging from the facial features and costume, the statues appear to have been carved in the first half of the 17th century.

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Where it is

Region

Yongin, Gyeonggi

Designation

Provincial Tangible Heritage · 시도유형문화유산