Birosa Stone Seated Amitabha Buddha, Yeongju

Basic information

Designation

Treasure No.996-1

Category

Sculpture

Designated year

1989

Location

영주시, 경상북도— 경북 영주시 풍기읍 삼가리 산17번지 비로사

Coordinates

36.938914, 128.498842

Birosa is a well-known temple rebuilt by Monk Jingongdaesa, one of the great monks from the end of Silla to the early Goryeo. It originally has the mandorla and pedestal installed, but the mandorla was thrown away after it was broken; only the octagonal lotus pedestal remains in the temple yard where it is enshrined. The Amitabha Buddha is 113cm tall, with harmonious face and imposing shoulders that reflect the realism well. The robe is draped over the left shoulder only, and the hand makes the characteristic gesture of the Amitabha Buddha with the fist softly clenching, palm facing upward, and thumbs touching. The 117.5cm Vairocana Buddha statue has refined face and stable body shape and expresses realism well like the Amitabha Buddha. The robe draped over both shoulders has narrowly arranged natural pleats of horizontal tiered style, and the hands form the jigwonin shape with the left forefinger wrapped by the right hand. These characteristics are similar to those of the Vairocana Statue (Treasure No. 863) of Donghwasa Temple. The two statues of Buddha are decent and generally similar to the stone Buddha statues made at the end of the 9th century in terms of the characteristics of line, posture of body, etc. Considering the fact that the Amitabha and Vairocana Buddha statues stand together side by side, they are important examples demonstrating the characteristics of the Hwaeom Order of Silla Buddhism in the 9th century.

Location