Bunhwangsa Geumdongyaksayeorae Standing Figure, Gyeongju

Basic information

Designation

Treasure No.2162

Category

Sculpture

Era

1609년(광해군 1) 조성, 1775년(영조 51) 개금보수

Designated year

2022

Location

경주시, 경상북도— 경상북도 경주시 분황로 94-11 (구황동, 분황사)

Coordinates

35.840417, 129.233405Kakao address conversion

This English description was machine-translated and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the original Korean text for details.

The gilt-bronze Bhaisajyaguru Buddha standing statue from Bunhuang Temple in Gyeongju represents the only surviving large-scale gilt-bronze standing Buddha from the late Joseon period. Construction records and architectural beams excavated during 1998 restoration of the temple's Bogwang Hall revealed dated inscriptions from 1616 and 1680, confirming creation of this monumental figure in 1609 using 5,360 kilograms of bronze. Historical references in the collected works of late Joseon literati including Kim Su-hong and Im Pil-dae document this Buddha's significance and transmission history. Bunhuang Temple, historically significant as a meditation center for eminent Buddhist monks including Jajang the Vinaya Master and Wonhyo during the Silla period, had previously housed a gilt-bronze Bhaisajyaguru Buddha destroyed during the Imjin War. After the war's conclusion, the temple reconstructed this magnificent Buddha to restore its identity as an ancient healing Buddha practice center. Standing 354 centimeters tall, this represents the largest existing gilt-bronze Bhaisajyaguru Buddha. The statue demonstrates rare gilt-bronze craftsmanship from early 17th century, when most monumental Buddhas were clay compositions. The figure displays youthful facial characteristics alongside 16th-century stylistic elements combined with 17th-century bodily proportions, representing stylistic continuity across periods. Documented creation records and manufacturing circumstances establish this work as crucial reference material for mid-17th century Buddhist sculpture research.

Location