Maitreya Buddha Triad

This Triad was moved from a stone chamber in Jangchanggol Valley near Mt. Namsan, Gyeongju, in 1925. Among the three statues, the main Buddha is especially unique; it is the only Buddha statue dating from the Three Kingdoms Period that is seated in a chair. Other Buddha statues sitting in a similar posture, mainly Maitreya Buddha statues, originate from 6th~7th century China. Based on the records f rom the Samgukyusa (Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms) and the Chinese examples, the main Buddha is presumed to be the Maitreya Buddha. To each side of the Buddha, a smaller Bodhisattva stands with a lotus flower in his hands. The Bodhisattvas are each wearing a jeweled crown decorated with three flowers, and they each have an innocent smile on their face, which is rather large in proportion with the body. Despite being carved from hard granite, this representative Silla stone Buddha emits a warm and lively aura.