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Clay Seated Vairocana Buddha Triad of Gwisinsa Temple, Gimje

김제 귀신사 소조비로자나삼불좌상 ( 金堤 歸信寺 塑造毘盧遮那三佛坐像 )

Heritage Search Detail
Classification Treasure
Name of Cultural Properties Clay Seated Vairocana Buddha Triad of Gwisinsa Temple, Gimje
Quantity 3
Designated Date 2007.04.20
Age About 1624-1633
Address Gwisinsa Temple 40, Cheongdo 6-gil, Geumsan-myeon, Gimje, Jeollabuk-do

In this Clay Seated Vairocana Triad, the Buddha of All-pervading Light, is flanked by Bhaisajyaguru, the Medicine Buddha, and Amitabha, the Buddha of the Western Paradise. This is one of the large clay Buddha images produced during the 17th century after the Japanese Invasions of 1592-1598. Impressive in size and carving technique, it shows influences from the early 17th-century style of Ming China but also attests to the effort of Korean Buddhist sculptors to establish a new style of their own. The large statues, though overwhelming, have gentle facial expressions and long torsos, resulting in elegant and dignified appearances standing for the Buddha nature. Particularly, the Vairocana at the center echoes the Chinese style of the Ming period in terms of its long torso and hand gesture symbolizing knowledge, called vajra mudra, enclosing the left hand with the right hand and stretching the left index finger toward the first joint of the right one. The dedication statement of the Nahanjeon Hall of Gwisinsa, dated 1633, says this triad was made before that year. The temple underwent overall repair in 1624, according to Jeonju Moaksan Gwisinsa sajeok sain (Records of Gwisinsa Temple in Moaksan Mountain, Jeonju), written by Buddhist Monk Jasu (1664-1737). Hence it is presumed that the images were made between 1624 and 1633. Also reflecting the trend of clay Buddha images of the early 17th century are two seated Buddha triads: one at Beopjusa Temple in Songnisan Mountain (Treasure No. 1360) and and one at Songgwangsa Temple in Wanju (Treasure No. 1274).