Stone Seated Buddha of Yonghwasa Temple, Yangsan

Basic information

Designation

Treasure No.491

Category

Sculpture

Era

통일신라시대

Designated year

1968

Location

양산시, 경상남도— 경남 양산시 물금읍 원동로 199-133, 용화사 (물금리)

Coordinates

35.316246, 128.974929

This stone seated Buddha, which remains as a complete form including its pedestal and mandorla (Buddhist halo of light), was originally located in a temple in Gamno-ri, Sangdong-myeon, Gimhae County. It was moved to a nearby riverside around the end of the Joseon Dynasty, and was then transferred to its present location in February 1947 when the Buddhist sanctuary was rebuilt at Yonghwasa Temple. The robust shoulders, broad chest, arms and legs are expressed with a sense of volume and exhibit a three-dimensional sense, but the hands, neck and other details are presented in a more formal fashion. The square face looks powerful with its protruding forehead, but the narrowly-open eyes, small nose and mouth are all typical features of the late Unified Silla era statue style. The robe covering the left shoulder but leaving the right shoulder exposed is tight on the body with simple folds. The mandorla, which depicts the light emanating from the Buddha’s body, is engraved with patterns of sparks, lotus flowers and clouds. The top of the mandorla is carved with a small Buddha and a figure of a flying maid, a very rare example of an image which can also be found on the mandorla of the Rock-carved Seated Buddha at Bungmireugam Hermitage of Daeheungsa Temple, Haenam (National Treasure No. 308). The octagonal pedestal on which the statue is sitting is engraved with lotus flower patterns and flying Bodhisattva images. This stone seated Buddha shows characteristics of statues from the mid-Unified Silla period, but as its details of are expressed in a more formal way than in the statues of that time, it is assumed that it was made during late Unified Silla.

Location