뉴스레터

The small 16.2-centimeter-tall Buddha statue was discovered by chance in Euiryong of South Gyeongsang Province in the summer of 1963. Produced in Korea in 539, the statue is the oldest of its kind to remain to this day.

The figure of Buddha standing upon a lotus pedestal with a halo (光背) in the background was produced from a single cast and emits a radiance from being completely gilded with a thick layer of gold. The backside of the halo bears an inscription composed of 47 characters, describing that the statue is one of a thousand statues (千佛) produced for distribution at a temple named Dongsa (東寺) in Nangrang of the ancient Korean kingdom Koguryo in the year Gimi (己未), the seventh year of the Yeonga (延嘉) era.

The etching and casting techniques used are somewhat rugged and there is barely any regularity in terms of the pattern of flames on the front of the halo, which would have caused the statue to be mistaken as a product of the kingdom Silla had it not been for the inscription. The standing gilt-bronze Buddha produced in the seventh year of the Yeonga era therefore clearly shows that Koguryo's style had spread all the way to Silla.

Reference: National Museum of Korea