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Stone Seated Buddha at Jeongnimsa Temple Site, Buyeo

부여 정림사지 석조여래좌상 ( 扶餘 定林寺址 石造如來坐像 )

Heritage Search Detail
Classification Treasure
Name of Cultural Properties Stone Seated Buddha at Jeongnimsa Temple Site, Buyeo
Quantity 1 Buddha statue
Designated Date 1963.01.21
Age Goryeo
Address 254, Dongnam-ri, Buyeo-eup, Buyeo-gun, Chungcheongnam-do

This stone seated Buddha facing the Five-story Stone Pagoda at the Jeongnimsa Temple Site in Buyeo (National Treasure No. 9) in the south and north remains at the Jeongnimsa Temple site in Buyeo. Jeongnimsa Temple was first built in the mid-sixth century, flourishing until the downfall of the Baekje Dynasty and subsequently prospering again during the Goryeo Dynasty. This stone Buddha statue shows the prosperity of the Goryeo Dynasty. The head and the crown are not the original but were remade and attached later. The details of the body are hard to recognize because of severe damage and abrasion. Nonetheless, the narrow shoulders and left hand on the chest suggest that the statue is that of a Vairocana Buddha since the right hand is holding the index finger of the left hand. The Buddha is sitting on an octagonal three-story pedestal, and the top story of the pedestal looks like a lotus flower in full bloom. Its middle story has large panel decorations carved onto each of the eight sides. The bottom story is shaped like an upside-down lotus flower with triple panel decorations overlapping with each other. The present location of this Buddha statue used to be the hall of Jeongnimsa Temple during the Baekje Dynasty. The refined tiles found here suggest that this Buddha statue was the principal Buddha statue of the main hall built when it was reconstructed during the Goryeo Dynasty.