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Patrick Kapty
Patrick Kapty
@patrickkapty
1 day ago
This statue is the oldest Buddhist sculpture with an inscribed date that has ever been found in Korea. The inscription on the back of the halo states that it was produced in 539 in the Goguryeo Kingdom. Adapting the overall style of Buddhist sculpture from China’s Northern Wei Dynasty with domestic elements, this statue is viewed as one of the first attempts to establish and assert Korean aesthetics. It is currently exhibited in the Buddhist Sculpture Gallery of National Museum of Korea. Soon after the Goguryeo Kingdom embraced Buddhism, which had been transmitted from China’s Former Qin, Chomunsa Temple and Ibullansa Temple were built in 375, followed by Gusa Temple in Pyongyang in 393. During his reign, Goguryeo’s King Jangsu relocated the capital to Pyongyang. In accordance, he also had the tomb of King Dongmyeong moved to Pyongyang, and constructed a huge temple, Jeongneungsa Temple, next to the tomb. Unfortunately, there are no extant artifacts or records revealing the nature or style of Buddhist sculptures that were enshrined in these temples. Although Buddhism was first introduced to Korea around the fourth century of the Three Kingdoms period, the vast majority of extant Korean Buddhist sculptures were produced after 500 C.E. This gap indicates that Buddhism did not immediately take root with all of the Korean people. Finally beginning to fill in that gap, this gilt-bronze Buddha with an inscription that reads “seventh year of yeonga” marked a new beginning for the history of Korean sculpture. In the summer of 1963, the statue was accidentally discovered in Uiryeong, South Gyeongsang Province. Despite its small size (16.2 cm high), it has enormous significance as the oldest Korean sculpture with an inscribed date and the first Korean Buddhist statue showing indigenous aesthetics.

This statue is the oldest Buddhist sculpture with an inscribed date that has ever been found in Korea. The inscription on the back of the halo states that it was produced in 539 in the Goguryeo Kingdom. Adapting the overall style of Buddhist sculpture from China’s Northern Wei Dynasty with domestic elements, this statue is viewed as one of the first attempts to establish and assert Korean aesthetics. It is currently exhibited in the Buddhist Sculpture Gallery of National Museum of Korea. Soon after the Goguryeo Kingdom embraced Buddhism, which had been transmitted from China’s Former Qin, Chomunsa Temple and Ibullansa Temple were built in 375, followed by Gusa Temple in Pyongyang in 393. During his reign, Goguryeo’s King Jangsu relocated the capital to Pyongyang. In accordance, he also had the tomb of King Dongmyeong moved to Pyongyang, and constructed a huge temple, Jeongneungsa Temple, next to the tomb. Unfortunately, there are no extant artifacts or records revealing the nature or style of Buddhist sculptures that were enshrined in these temples. Although Buddhism was first introduced to Korea around the fourth century of the Three Kingdoms period, the vast majority of extant Korean Buddhist sculptures were produced after 500 C.E. This gap indicates that Buddhism did not immediately take root with all of the Korean people. Finally beginning to fill in that gap, this gilt-bronze Buddha with an inscription that reads “seventh year of yeonga” marked a new beginning for the history of Korean sculpture. In the summer of 1963, the statue was accidentally discovered in Uiryeong, South Gyeongsang Province. Despite its small size (16.2 cm high), it has enormous significance as the oldest Korean sculpture with an inscribed date and the first Korean Buddhist statue showing indigenous aesthetics.

Standing Buddha sculpture
gilt bronze
circa 539 CE
Goguryeo Kingdom
Korea

#buddha #buddhism #korea #koreanbuddhism #buddhiststatue #buddhistsculpture #ancientart #ancientsculpture #giltbronze #sculpture #art #koreanart #goguryeokingdom #c539CE #ancientkorea #seoul #nationalmuseumofkorea

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