Seated Yuchon-dong Stone Buddha

This Buddha statue stands in Yuchon-dong, Seo-gu, Gwangju. It originally stood at Uncheonsa Temple in Ssangchon-dong and was moved to its present location in 1939. According to tradition, Yuchon-dong, then called Geungnak-myeon, had many people coming and going and many residents, but lacked a proper object to pray to, so the statue was moved there from Uncheonsa Temple. A rumour spread that eating a piece of the Buddha's nose would ensure the birth of a son, so not only residents but passers-by chipped away at the nose, with the result that the outline of the face is no longer clear. Some features remain distinct, however: a partial pattern surviving at the back of the head, a topknot-shaped bun of hair, and the right hand lightly holding its thumb and index finger together. The body gives an impression of being drawn inward, with short arms set against broad, imposing shoulders and a narrow waist. The knees are rendered in exaggerated proportion, and the two soles of the feet, symmetrical with the legs, together with the folds of the robe, present an unusual appearance. These bodily features, which carry on the style of the Goryeo period, are characteristic of early Joseon Buddha statues and are valued as important material for the study of Buddhist sculpture.

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Where it is

Region

Seo-gu, Jeonnam & Gwangju

Designation

Cultural Heritage Material · 문화유산자료