Stone Seated Vairocana Buddha of Gagyeonsa Temple, Goesan

Basic information

Designation

Treasure No.433

Category

Sculpture

Era

통일신라시대

Designated year

1966

Location

괴산군, 충청북도— 충북 괴산군 칠성면 각연길 451, 각연사 (태성리)

Coordinates

36.754742, 127.927691

This Vairocana Buddha statue is complete with both its pedestal Buddha and mandorla (Buddhist halo of light), which expresses the light emanating from the Buddha’s body. Vairocana Buddha is regarded as a ruler of the world of truth. The Buddha’s hair is expressed in the curly nabal style (i.e. twirled up and around in a seashell-shaped fashion), and a flat usnisa (a protuberance symbolizing supreme wisdom) can be hardly seen on top of his head. The boobui (robe), which covers the left shoulder while leaving the right shoulder exposed, consists of simple folds expressed in an extremely formal way, especially around the legs. This feature, along with the facial expression, is very similar to the Iron Seated Vairocana Buddha of Janggoksa Temple, Cheongyang (Treasure No. 174). However, the awkward way in which the right hand holding the left index finger is expressed, and the exposed left side of the body give the statue an unfinished look. The water drop-shaped mandorla is slim at the middle, as if to distinguish the dugwang (light radiating from the head) behind the head from the singwang (light emanating from the body) behind the body. The upper part of the mandorla above the statue’s head and both sides of the statue are each engraved with three small Buddha images. The mandorla is generally engraved with lotus and cloud patterns, while its edge is decorated with flame patterns. Like typical Buddhist images made during the heyday of the Silla Period, the statue lacks tense vitality and elegant craftsmanship, but, as a piece dating from the late Unified Silla Dynasty, its overall appearance is rather graceful.

Location