Birosa Stone Seated Vairocana Buddha, Yeongju

Basic information

Designation

Treasure No.996-2

Category

Sculpture

Designated year

1989

Location

영주시, 경상북도— 경상북도 영주시 풍기읍 삼가리 산17 비로사

Coordinates

36.940785, 128.499531

An ancient historic Buddhist temple restored by an eminent monk Jingong (869-940)) in the Silla-Goryeo transition period, Birosa Temple is enshrining two old stone statues of Amitabha and Vairocana Buddhas. The statues are generally in good condition although they have lost their original halos and pedestals. The Amitabha Buddha, 113 centimeters in height, features a benign face and broad shoulders carved in a realistic manner. He wears a robe covering only the left shoulder, has both hands placed on the lap showing a symbolic gesture marked by gently clenching fists with the palms upward and the thumbs touching each other. The Vairocana Buddha, 117 centimeters in height, exhibits equally a benign face and well-proportioned body in a stable seating posture, all realistically depicted. He is in a robe covering both shoulders with many folds running parallel and rendered more or less symmetrical, and displays a symbolic hand gesture with the right hand covering the left index finger, showing that he is Vairocana. Both Buddhas share the characteristic features of the stone Buddhist images of the late 9th century with elegant lines and stable posture. The rendering of Amitabha and Vairocana existing at the same time and in the same place shows a unique feature of Avatamsaka Buddhism of Unified Silla in the 9th century.

Location