Stone Standing Maitreya Bodhisattva of Daejosa Temple, Buyeo

Basic information

Designation

Treasure No.217

Category

Sculpture

Era

고려시대

Designated year

1963

Location

부여군, 충청남도— 충남 부여군 임천면 성흥로197번길 112 (구교리)

Coordinates

36.191001, 126.900393

This is one of the large stone Maitreya statues that were once popular during the Goryeo Dynasty. It is matched only by the Standing Maitreya Buddha at the Gwanchoksa Temple (Treasure No. 218) in Nonsan, Chungcheongnam-do. This is a large, 10-meter high statue of a Maitreya Buddha who is believed to be savior of the humanity in the distant future. The Buddha is wearing a square crown with a doubled canopy. Small bells are hanging on all the four corners of the canopy. Short hair is hanging from the bottom of the crown. The Standing Maitreya Buddha at the Gwanchoksa Temple also has the same hairstyle. The face is square and flat. The ears and eyes are large but the nose and mouth are disproportionately small. The disproportionate facial features have a curious effect, but not as much as the Standing Stone Maitreya Buddha at the Gwanchoksa Temple. One line can be seen on the short neck. The robe covering both the shoulders seems to be very thick and heavy. The outline of the arms is barely expressed in the clothing. The hands are also hard to make out, but the right hand seems to be over the chest while the left hand is holding a lotus flower branch near the stomach. A flat rock is placed in front of the Buddha statue to set sacrificial food on. The Buddha is large, with an exaggerated face. This statue, along with the Standing Stone Maitreya Buddha at the Gwanchoksa Temple, is regarded as a prominent example of Stone Maitreya Buddha statues of the region.

Location