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Stone Seated Vairocana Buddha of Gagyeonsa Temple, Goesan

괴산 각연사 석조비로자나불좌상 ( 槐山 覺淵寺 石造毘盧遮那佛坐像 )

Heritage Search Detail
Classification Treasure
Name of Cultural Properties Stone Seated Vairocana Buddha of Gagyeonsa Temple, Goesan
Quantity 1 Buddha statue
Designated Date 1966.02.28
Age Unified Silla
Address Gagyeonsa Temple 451, Gagyeon-gil, Chilseong-myeon, Goesan-gun, Chungcheongbuk-do

This Vairocana Buddha statue is complete with both its pedestal Buddha and mandorla (Buddhist halo of light), which expresses the light emanating from the Buddha’s body. Vairocana Buddha is regarded as a ruler of the world of truth. The Buddha’s hair is expressed in the curly nabal style (i.e. twirled up and around in a seashell-shaped fashion), and a flat usnisa (a protuberance symbolizing supreme wisdom) can be hardly seen on top of his head. The boobui (robe), which covers the left shoulder while leaving the right shoulder exposed, consists of simple folds expressed in an extremely formal way, especially around the legs. This feature, along with the facial expression, is very similar to the Iron Seated Vairocana Buddha of Janggoksa Temple, Cheongyang (Treasure No. 174). However, the awkward way in which the right hand holding the left index finger is expressed, and the exposed left side of the body give the statue an unfinished look. The water drop-shaped mandorla is slim at the middle, as if to distinguish the dugwang (light radiating from the head) behind the head from the singwang (light emanating from the body) behind the body. The upper part of the mandorla above the statue’s head and both sides of the statue are each engraved with three small Buddha images. The mandorla is generally engraved with lotus and cloud patterns, while its edge is decorated with flame patterns. Like typical Buddhist images made during the heyday of the Silla Period, the statue lacks tense vitality and elegant craftsmanship, but, as a piece dating from the late Unified Silla Dynasty, its overall appearance is rather graceful.