Gobulseonwon Seated Clay Buddha, Chungju

This Buddha statue, enshrined alone at Gobulseonwon in Seondang-ri, Sinni-myeon, is a clay sculpture. Apart from partial repairs to both hands, it is in good condition, though iron powder has been applied to the face. The face is rendered larger than is proportionate to the body, giving a somewhat unbalanced impression. It is square and plump, with the hair rendered as tight snail-shell curls topped with a knot-jewel, and a white curl (baekho) depicted on the forehead, though the inset jewel there is said to have been added recently. The torso is rendered smaller in proportion to the face; because the fingers have been repaired the exact hand gesture cannot be determined with certainty, but the left hand appears to rest palm-up on the left knee while the right hand forms the earth-touching gesture. The robe covers both shoulders, its hem falling in a symmetrical 'U' shape that is decorative in effect. Present-day objects are said to have been placed in the consecration cavity in the chest, which was then sealed with clay. Overall, with its refined proportions and thickly rendered drapery folds, this statue is thought to belong to the refined style lineage of Goryeo-period Buddhist sculpture. Though small, it is a complete and well-preserved, refined clay statue. Judging from the face and the faint smile at the corners of the mouth, the carving is of good quality, and the drapery style resembles that of wooden Buddha statues popular in the northern Chungcheong region during the 18th century, suggesting that this statue too may have been made around that time. Although its original provenance is unknown and it is regrettable that the contents of its consecration cavity have been lost, this statue, which displays features of the Goryeo period, is valuable material for the study of Buddhist statuary owing to the rarity of its material.

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Where it is

Region

Chungju, Chungbuk

Designation

Cultural Heritage Material · 문화유산자료