Baengnyulsa Temple: Medicine Buddha

SOUTH KOREA, North Gyeongsang, Gyeongju; Unified Silla dynasty

This statue is one of the three large bronze Buddha statues made during the Unified Silla dynasty (668–935) along with the Vairocana Buddha and Amitabha Buddha found at Bulguksa Temple. The Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms notes that in 755, Bunhwangsa Temple built a Medicine Buddha that was 153.35 t in weight. This demonstrates how popular large-scale Buddhas were at the time. The Medicine Buddha was listed as National Treasure No. 28 in 1962.
The figure wears a monastic robe that covers both shoulders; the thin material ripples down in large folds from the waist and allows the shape of the legs to show. An inner robe tied at the waist is visible. Some traces of the paint and gilding are visible. The Buddha’s hands were cast separately from the body and are now missing. Four small holes can be found at the back of the head and body, which served to secure a mandorla.