국립중앙박물관 NATIONAL MUSEUM OF KOREA

Highlights
Buddha
  • Exhibition Name

    Buddha

  • Nationality/Period

    Goryeo Dynasty

  • Provenance

    Gwangju-gun

  • Materials

    Metal - Iron

  • Category

    religion - Buddhism - adoration - image of Buddha

  • Dimensions

    H. 281.8cm

  • Designation

    Treasure 332

  • Accession Number

    Deoksu 2748

  • Location

    Buddhist Sculpture Gallery

At 2.88 meters in height and weighing 6.2 tons, this massive statue is the largest iron Buddha ever found in Korea. It was discovered at a temple site in Hasachang-dong, Hanam-si, Gyeonggi-do Province in 1911. An archaeological survey of the temple site carried out following the 1945 liberation from Japanese colonial rule revealed that the statue was made during the Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392). There are still fragments at the temple site of the stone pedestal on which the enormous image was placed. This Buddha is making the same earth-touching mudra as the famous Buddha in the Seokguram Grotto sanctuary in Gyeongju. However, this one possesses an unnaturally slim waist and abstracted details. Traces of hardened varnish are visible on the knees, indicating that the sculpture was originally covered with a thick coat of varnish and pasted over with gold. The nose and both hands were repaired in a later period.