부산광역시 서구청 영문 스킵네비게이션

This is a near-complete gilt-bronze statue of Buddha with a pedestal made in 9th century during the Unified Silla Dynasty and a missing halo. The statue was found at the site of Borisa Temple in Gabeul-ri, Garye-myeon, Uiryeong-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do in 1948. The Buddha stands facing forward on an eight-centimeter octagon pedestal shaped like a lotus flower. The half-open eyes are simplified into the shape of a crease.

There is a curl between the eyebrows. The statue’s hair is intertwined together like rope, wrapped up on top of the head but appears to be plain due to lack of detail. The neck is short and the three lines on the neck are indistinctive. Both hands are slightly damaged but the left hand is lowered with the palm in full view, offering salvation to those who seek it.

The Buddha is wearing a robe that hangs on one shoulder, draping down below the legs, creasing in six smooth folds. A knot is embossed over the robe. The pedestal is high considering the height of the statue and consists of three tiers. Eye-inspired patterns decorate the eight sides of the octagon on the bottommost tier.

The style is archetypical of the Unified Silla Dynasty, although the center tier of the pedestal is in the shape of a cylinder and the lotus patterns are simplified, slightly different from the octagon pedestal from the period. Buddha is bowing slightly with a serene and peaceful expression as if he were lost in deep thought. The statue’s portion and delicate crease on his robe is a good example of Unified Shilla’s Buddhist art.