Yeonggwang Seolmae-ri Stone Buldu Statue

This stone Buddha head stands in Mireukgol valley, north-west of Seogo village in Seolmae-ri, Yeonggwang — an unusual form in which only the head of a Buddha image is carved and set upon a rock. The face, square and somewhat broad, has eyes that appear sunk in meditation, giving an impression of solemn dignity. The bald head bears a broad, large usnisa, the eyelids are notably large, and the forehead is rather narrow. The nose is straight and well proportioned, the mouth closed neatly, and the ears are especially long, reaching down to the middle of the neck. The back of the head is treated as a flat plane, but the carving of the front is extremely fine and accomplished. A peg protrudes from the base of the neck, thought to have been intended to fix the head more securely in place. Believed to have been made between the end of Unified Silla and the early Goryeo period, the Buldu of Seolmae-ri is a colossal Buddha head measuring 190 cm in total height, an example with almost no parallel in the history of Korean sculpture. The large, meditative face displays outstanding carving skill, giving the piece very great artistic and scholarly value.

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Where it is

Region

Yeonggwang, Jeonnam & Gwangju

Designation

Provincial Tangible Heritage · 시도유형문화유산