This two-meter-tall granite Buddha statue is located at the Manboksa Temple Site in Namwon City, Jeollabuk-do. Historians conjecture that the statue was erected at the same time as the temple, which was built during the reign of King Munjong of Goryeo (r. 1046-1083). According to Dongguk yeoji seungnam (Augumented Survey of the Geography of Korea), Manboksa Temple was flanked by a five-story palace and a two-story palace to its east and west, respectively, and also contained an approximately 10m-high bronze Buddha statue, suggesting that it was a temple of great stature and importance.
The Buddha has a bald head topped with an usnisa (a protuberance symbolizing supreme wisdom) and a chubby oval face, which the eyes, nose, and mouth expressed in a natural way. The curves of the arms and body are very smooth, and the robe hanging from the shoulders has a uniquely folded round collar and rounded folds. The right hand is held upward with the palm facing outwards, and the left arm is hanging down. The hands must have been attached to the arms separately, but both are missing.
The mandorla (Buddhist halo of light) is made up of a dugwang (light radiating from the head) behind the head and a singwang (light emanating from the body) behind the body, with a thick line dividing them in two. The dugwang, which is missing its top part, is carved with lotus petals and stems, and the singwang is carved with lotus stems, while the background features spark patterns and two small Buddha images on either side.
Although the face and body of the stone standing Buddha at Manboksa Temple have a smooth quality, the folds in the clothing and the posture are a little awkward, symbolizing the gradual decline in the quality of Buddha statues during the period of transition from the late Silla Dynasty to the early Goryeo Dynasty.