Seated Goyang Heungguksa Temple Wooden Amitabha Buddha

This is a small-bodied Amitabha Buddha enshrined in the Dharma Hall of Heungguksa Temple. The statue's head is rather large in proportion to the body, and it sits in a posture slightly hunched forward. The square face has narrow, horizontal eyes, a large nose with a rounded bridge, and long, slender lips bearing a faint smile, giving an impression that is both composed and benevolent. The two hands, made separately and attached, join the thumb and middle finger in a circle to form the mudra characteristic of Amitabha. The hair is rendered as sharp nabal (spiral curls resembling a conch shell), and the usnisha (the cranial protuberance deriving from the topknot Indian men once wore, symbolising the Buddha's great and lofty wisdom) has an indistinct boundary. The cylindrical and half-moon-shaped topknot-ornament beads at the crown and centre of the forehead are a feature commonly found in Buddhist statues of the late Joseon period. The robe covering the whole body is rendered simply, in broad folds, revealing an overall bold sculptural intent. At the back, the hem falling from the left shoulder hangs down in a long sweep. The features distinctive to this statue are the drop-shaped emphasis given to the robe's fold at the right shoulder and the lotus-petal finish of the fold over the left knee. Together with the composed, benevolent facial expression, these features correspond closely to the wooden Buddha statue at Sangunsa Temple in Goyang, made in 1713 by the sculptor-monk Jinyeol, so this statue is presumed to date from roughly the first half of the 18th century.

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Where it is

Region

Goyang, Gyeonggi

Designation

Cultural Heritage Material · 문화유산자료