Geumdunsaji Seokjobulbisang, Suncheon

Basic information

Designation

Treasure No.946

Category

Sculpture

Era

통일신라시대 9세기

Designated year

1988

Location

순천시, 전라남도— 전라남도 순천시 수정암길 192 (낙안면)

Coordinates

34.925357, 127.340839

This stone stele stands on a ruined temple site at Geumjeonsan Mountain. The area is presumed to be a formal site of Geumdunsa Temple; a record in Dongguk yeoji seungnam (Augmented Survey of the Geography of Korea) states thus: “Geumdunsa Temple is located on Geumjeonsan Mountain.” This stele with roof-like canopy and pedestal has a Buddha statue carved in relief on one side of a large rectangular stone, forming a huge stone monument. A low usnisa (protrusion on the top of Buddha’s head) rises on top of the head, and the face has a soft shape. The well-proportioned bodyline looks solid and refined. The sacerdotal robe draped over the shoulders is carved with horizontal pleats. The two hands are on the chest, with the thumbs and forefingers touching each other. There is an inscription on the rear of the Buddha statue, but it is illegible due to serious weathering. This stele is assumed to have originally had a Bodhisattva statue on top of the rear side and the elephant statue on the bottom. The finial ornament has a shape similar to a roof, with lotus leaves facing downward and upward carved on the pedestal. Expressions such as stiffer face and coarse hem are important examples showing the characteristics of the realism prevalent in the ninth century.

Location