Songrimsa Seokjoamitayeoraesamjon Seated Figure, Chilgok

Basic information

Designation

Treasure No.1606

Category

Sculpture

Era

1655년

Designated year

2009

Location

칠곡군, 경상북도— 경북 칠곡군 동명면 송림길 73, 송림사 (구덕리)

Coordinates

35.982098, 128.577426

This Buddha triad enshrined in Cheonbuljeon Hall of Songnimsa Temple consists of Amitabha and two attendant Bodhisattvas, Avalokitesvara and Ksitigarbha. It is carved of zeolite, a soft porous stone quarried in the Gyeongju area, which is assumed to have been among the materials easily handled by monk sculptors specializing in wooden sculpture. Probably due to the texture of the material, the images appear somewhat stiff in their facial and body expressions. It is especially noteworthy that all three images are poised with an identical mudra, both hands resting on the laps with palms turned down. This is a typical posture frequently found among Buddhist images carved from zeolite during the late Joseon Dynasty, of which the present triad was a pioneering example. According to an invocation paper found inside the Amitabha, the Buddha triad was completed in 1655 (the sixth year of King Hyojong’s reign), and was the first work created under the lead of the head artist Dou, who came from the same lineage as the famous monk sculptor Muyeom. The triad is crucial reference for the study of 17th century Buddhist sculpture and its different schools

Location