Standing Bonghwa Dongmyeon-ri Rock-carved Vairocana Buddha

Carved onto a rock face at Dongmyeon-ri, Jaesan-myeon, Bonghwa-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do, this rock-carved buddha represents Vairocana, the buddha said to preside over the entire world of truth. Above the bare head, the topknot-shaped hair bun is rendered low, and the square face bears neatly carved eyes, nose and mouth. The ears are long, reaching to both shoulders, and three distinct folds of the neck (samdo) are clearly shown. The robe covering both shoulders has a collar folded once at the middle, and the evenly spaced folds running diagonally from the shoulders down past the armpits are rendered in incised lines. The hands are raised to chest height, with the right hand lightly wrapping around the left index finger, the mudra generally associated with Vairocana. Behind the head a halo is carved in relief, and traces of a flame pattern remain along its edge. As a rock-carved image that is both large in scale and shown standing, this buddha is valued as important material for the study of Vairocana images of the Unified Silla period.

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Where it is

Region

Bonghwa, Gyeongbuk

Designation

Provincial Tangible Heritage · 시도유형문화유산