Standing Geumneungdeokcheon-ri Stone Avalokitesvara

This statue originally stood in a nearby valley and was moved to its present site in 1927, where a shrine hall was built to house it. Carved in relief on a broad slab of granite, the bodhisattva figure stands 2.73 m tall and appears to represent Avalokitesvara. The head is crowned with a jewelled crown, and although the eyes, nose and mouth are rendered in a somewhat formulaic manner, the face has a gentle expression. The body is short in proportion to the head, giving it a slightly unbalanced appearance, and the robe draped over both shoulders is carved with simply treated folds. The halo is decorated with a flame pattern along its edge and a floral pattern within. On either side of the bodhisattva are carved child attendant figures each holding a medicine jar, a distinctive feature not found elsewhere and one that has drawn particular attention. Judging from the overall carving technique and the treatment of the crown, robe and halo, the statue is presumed to date from the early Goryeo period.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Gimcheon, Gyeongbuk

Designation

Provincial Tangible Heritage · 시도유형문화유산