Buddha

Only the top half of this Buddha statue has been restored since it was moved to the museum from a temple site in Janghang-ri, Yangbuk-myeon, Gyeongju. The pedestal for the statue and two stupas remain at the temple site. The octagonal pedestal features carvings of lions and the guardians on its surface, and a hole on top where the Buddha statue was affixed; the shape of the hole indicates that the statue was in a standing position. Both the body and the pear-shaped halo were carved out of one piece of rock. The head is covered with thick curly hair, with the customary Ushnisha at the center, representing wisdom. A myriad of flame designs swirl around Buddha’s head and body, suggesting a mysterious glow. The statue is a beautiful testament to the masterful technique for sculpting granite that marked the realistic trend of the Unified Silla Period in the mid-8th century.