Gilt-bronze Pensive Maitreya Bodhisattva

Basic information

Designation

Treasure No.331

Category

Sculpture

Era

삼국시대

Designated year

1963

Location

용산구, 서울특별시— 서울특별시 용산구 서빙고로 137 (용산동6가, 국립중앙박물관)

Coordinates

37.524041, 126.980350

This Maitreya Bodhisattva statue is sitting with the left leg hanging down. It is in a unique position because it looks as if it is thinking, holding up the right hand with two fingers spread apart and slightly touching the cheek. The eyes are slanting upwards on the long, unsmiling face, which is still and serious. The hair is flat and done in a topknot. The hair at the back is parted to each side and comes down to below the ears. The long, narrow body is wearing clothing only on the shoulders and arms. The double-tiered bead decoration around the neck looks heavy, hanging down the chest in an ‘X’ shape. The folds in the clothing are simple, almost like a graph. There is an upside down lotus flower design pedestal on the octagonal base, laid on top of the square pedestal. The square pedestal has two lozenge-shaped holes on each side, which is rare in the gilt-bronze statues of Korea. The carving is refined and polished with a clear distinction between lines and surfaces. The place it was excavated is not certain, but judging from the double bead decoration and the lotus flower style with a protruding middle part, this is presumed to have been made in the late Three Kingdoms.

Location