The National Museum of Korea presents the forth special exhibition of the year 2008, 'Echoes of Life:
the Enduring Tradition of Unified Silla Sculpture'. The exhibition will illuminate the significance of Silla
sculptures in the history of Korean art.

After unifying Three Kingdoms and expelling Tang China from its territory, Silla established a
threshold of a new era along with Balhae which ruled the northern territory of collapsed Goguryeo.
Recognizing its international position in the global stage, it opened itself to the other culture while
maintaining its own creative appreciation.

Such stance of the kingdom was directly conveyed in its sculptures. Naturally carved, they
embody transcendence and sublimity of the Dharma.Koreans praise those artifacts as one of the
best cultural heritage and the objects gained a great deal of international attention as well.

The exhibition is brought to renew public understanding of Korean Buddhist sculpture by presenting
exquisite pieces from various collections. Also shown are comparable pieces of Japan and China,
neighboring countries of Unified Silla, which had been rarely introduced in Korea but hold significant
context to reveal the development of Unified Silla art from its beginning to the eventual completion
of its aesthetics.

The unprecedented gathering of the outstanding artifacts will provide an opportunity for visitors to
appreciate the superiority and delicacy Silla sculptures have achieved. It could not have been
possible without extensive supports from members of the museums and temples who generously
loaned their collections for this event. Last but not the least, my deepest gratitude goes to the
colleagues of Tokyo National Museum, Nara National Museum, and Kyushu National Museum for
their collaboration to present their invaluable collections.