Hwajeonri Seokjosamyeon Buddhist Statue, Yesan

Basic information

Designation

Treasure No.794

Category

Sculpture

Era

백제시대

Designated year

1984

Location

예산군, 충청남도— 충남 예산군 봉산면 화전리 산62-3번지

Coordinates

36.754399, 126.678170

These were discovered in Hwajeon-ri, Bongsan-myeon, Yesan-gun, Chungcheongnam-do in 1983. The Buddha statues are carved on each of four sides of a stone pillar. This is the sole example of the four-faced Buddha statue (called samyeonbul), also called four-positioned Buddha statue (sabangbul), from the age of Baekje. It shows the Bhaisajyaguru Buddha, Amitabha Buddha, Sakyamuni and Maitreya reigning respectively over the Land of Happiness in the west, east, north and south. There is a seated statue of Buddha that is thought to be the principal Buddha on the southern side, and a standing statue is carved on the remaining sides each. The head part is much damaged and there remain only the western and northern parts. The detachable hands all disappeared. The four Buddhas all have the robe over the shoulders with the strap knot seen at the chest. The pleats are very deep and overlapped under the chest in a U-shape. The brilliance around the head is circular, with a carved flame and lotus, showing the particular style of Baekje. It is the first four-faced stone statue of Buddha discovered in Korea and can be compared with the rock-carved Buddha Triad in Seosan. It is an important source for research into the history and art of Buddhism in Baekje.

Location