Stone Seated Buddha of Cheongnyongsa Temple, Yecheon

Basic information

Designation

Treasure No.424

Category

Sculpture

Era

통일신라시대

Designated year

1965

Location

예천군, 경상북도— 경북 예천군 용문면 선리 521 외 1필지(520-2)

Coordinates

36.731078, 128.400943

This stone seated Buddha made during the Unified Silla Dynasty is enshrined together with the Stone Seated Vairocana Buddha (Treasure No. 425) in the Buddhist sanctuary at Cheongnyongsa Temple in Yecheon. The Buddha’s hair is expressed in the curly nabal style (i.e. twirled up and around in a seashell-shaped fashion), and a large usnisa (a protuberance symbolizing supreme wisdom) can be seen on top of his head. The oval-shaped face is carved with eyes, nose, and mouth in a sophisticated and detailed way, and the short ears and distinctively-carved wrinkles on the neck are also impressive. The shoulders are narrow and the body, along with the feeble hands and feet, looks weak and unsolid. The beobui (sacerdotal robes) covering both shoulders has parallel folds and a knotted band at the chest, which are common characteristics of Buddha statues made during the Unified Silla Period. The mandorla (Buddhist halo of light) is made up of a dugwang (light radiating from the head) behind the head and a singwang (light emanating from the body) behind the body, expressed with double lines. The center of the dugwang is carved with lotus flower patterns, and the singwang is carved with vine patterns, while the background of the singwang features spark patterns. The Buddha statue is seated on an octagonal pedestal, the lower part of which is engraved with over-turned lotus flower patterns, while the upper part is adorned with full-blown lotus flowers. Judging from the smooth expression of the body and the styles of the pedestal and mandorla, this stone seated Buddha was made during the late Unified Silla Period.

Location