Seated Wooden Amitabha Buddha Statue of Baegyangsa Temple, Jangseong 

Joseon Dynasty 1607

Wood

207cm

Treasure

Nestled on the easternslope of the Baegamsan Mountain(白巖山), in Jangseong gun County, Jeollanam-do, stands Baekyangsa Temple. It is the Head Temple of the 18th District of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism. The temple was originally founded during the Three Kingdoms period(57BCE – 668CE). A few centuries later, this ancient monastery was renovated by Seon Master Jungyeon(中延禪師) in 1034, the 3rd year of the reign of King Deokjong(r.1031-1034) of th  Goryeo Dynasty(918-1392). It was then renamed Jeongtosa(淨土寺), meaning “Temple of the Pure Land” Afterwards, State Preceptor Gakjin(覺眞國師, 1270-1355) restored several dharma halls, and also founded some hermitages on the mountainside. These improvements appear to have significantly improved the temple’s reputation.

The Seated Wooden Amitabha Buddha statue is enshrined in the Paradise Hall of Baegyangsa Temple. Amitabha Buddha has two orbs adorning his head, a full globe at the crown, and a half-sphere above his forehead. The face is oblong with a rounded chin, and the neck is carved in three folds, symbolizing the Three Ways in Buddhism. The hands are posed in Shunya Mudra, where the middle fingers touch the thumbs, with the right hand facing forward and palm up, while the left palm up facing downwards. The upper body has broad shoulders, giving the impression of strength, while the lower body appears thin in comparison to its width. His robe is double-layered, with the outer garment draped over the left shoulder, but modified to cover the right shoulder as well, with evenly spaced vertical folds of cloth near the shoulders to emphasize the massive body. The girdle near the chest is a single line with no other pleats. The folds between the legs are depicted as a series of undulating pleats. The statue was created with Ven. Hyeonjin as the chief sculptor.