Golguram Hermitage: Seated Buddha

SOUTH KOREA, North Gyeongsang, Gyeongju; Unified Silla dynasty

This carving is located on a cliff in Yangbuk, Gyeongju. In the 6th century, an Indian Buddhist monk built the Golguram Hermitage, and carved 12 caves and niches at the site. Currently only seven caves remain: the Avalokitesvara Cave, Ksitigarbha Cave, Medicine Buddha Cave, the Arhat Cave, the Deity Cave, Platform of the the Seven Stars, and the Mountain Spirit Hall. Among them, the largest is the Avalokitesvara Niche, which enshrines an Avalokitesvara statue surrounded by 108 small Avalokitesvara images on the cliff face. At the highest point of the cliff there is a well-preserved seated Buddha carving. This carving was listed as Treasure No. 581 in 1974.
The figure is carved in high relief and has a round nimbus. The style is typical of carvings from the Unified Silla dynasty (668–935). The body of the Buddha is flat, with step-like folding patterns on his monastic robe. The mandorla is incised with flames. The chest, neck, and throne are badly damaged due to erosion.