Seated buddha image carved on rock surface (Treasure no.243) of the Donghwa Temple

This image of the Buddha is seated in the meditation pose on a lotus pedestal on a cloud.The right hand is in the Bumi-sparsa mudra ,or the Gesture of Calling the Earth to witness againt Evil, the symbolic gesture that Buddha took at the moment he reached enlightenment.


The robe is draped over both shoulders and around the Buddha are cirrcuar devices signifying light the halo behind his head and the aura behind his body. The haloes are carved with two lines inside and intricate flame patterns outside.

The Buddha has hair in the "snail pattern" with a protuberance on the symbolizing supreme wisdom.The inlayed jewel in the forehead symbolizing infinite sight is missing. The elaborate lotus pedestal design,the complex flame patterns,the clustered folds of the robe and the formal rendering of the body are stylistie features which indicate that this image can be dated to the unified Silla period 668-935


Treasure no.243
San 124-1 Dohak-dong , Dong-gu ,Daegu ,south korea