Rock-carved Standing Buddha in Singyeong-ri, Hongseong

Basic information

Designation

Treasure No.355

Category

Sculpture

Era

고려시대

Designated year

1963

Location

홍성군, 충청남도— 충남 홍성군 홍북면 신경리 산80-1번지

Coordinates

36.651005, 126.654617

This is a large statue of Buddha engraved on a protruding rock carved into the shape of a shrine. It is 4 meters in height and is located on Yongbongsan Mountain in Hongseong-gun, Chungcheongnam-do. Overall, while the headpiece is solid and integrity is shown on the face, the statue is unbalanced by its loss of volume towards the bottom. The usnisa (a protuberance symbolizing supreme wisdom), shaped like a topknot rising from the bald head, is fair-sized. The face is large and voluptuous compared to the body, and the calm smile gives an impression of mildness. The outer shape of the body falls away and becomes flat towards the bottom. The clothing wrapped around the shoulders is clearly depicted by several lines under the neck but the thin lines beneath that are rather like a graph. Only the outline of the mandorla (Buddhist halo of light), which gives shape to the light coming from the body, is expressed by an intaglio using the carved side of the rock. Though the face is plump and balanced, the graph-like ripples of the clothing and the unskilled carving techniques shown below indicate that this Buddha image dates from the early Goryeo Dynasty.

Location