국립중앙박물관 NATIONAL MUSEUM OF KOREA

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Buddhist Stele of Amitabha Buddha Triad with Inscription of "Gyeyu" (癸酉, "the 10th Year of the Sexagenary Cycle")
  • Nationality/Period

    Unified Silla Period

  • Provenance

    Yeon-gi-gun

  • Materials

    Stone - Other/ Miscellaneous

  • Category

    religion - Buddhism - adoration - image of Buddha

  • Dimensions

    H. 42.5cm

  • Designation

    National Treasure 106

  • Accession Number

    Sinsu 550

Discovered at Biamsa Temple in Yeongi-gun of Chungcheongnam-do (present-day Sejong City), this Buddhist stele carved with Amitabha Buddha accompanied by other Buddhas and Bodhisattvas contains an inscription stating that it was erected on the fifteenth day of the second lunar month in a Gichuk Year (probably 689) for the parents in the past seven lives. The carving, which depicts the Pure Land of Amitabha, is thought to be the oldest such work discovered in Korea so far, and is considered a great work of art due to the fine openwork rendering of the railings and stairs and to the composition taken to express spatial depth.