Anguksa Temple: Buddha Triad

SOUTH KOREA, South Chungcheong, Dangjin; Goryeo dynasty

The statues were discovered at the site of Anguksa Temple. They depict a Buddha and two Bodhisattvas. The sculptures were listed as Treasure No. 100 in 1963.
The central Buddha was carved from a single piece of rock. The cylindrical headdress with its top-heavy square canopy accentuates the solid appearance. The two hands are carved in relief and appear to make the lotus mudra. Statues with these body shapes are commonly seen around the Chungcheong area and are mostly dated to the Goryeo dynasty (918–1392). The pedestals of all three statues are buried underground.
The Bodhisattva on the left wears a more detailed headdress with a foliate pattern. The long eyes are carved straight and the small mouth is pursed. The right hand is likely raised in abhaya (fearlessness) mudra and the left hand is held across the body. The figure appears much shorter since the lower half is buried. The damaged statue on the right has hands in a similar posture as the other two but details of the robe are more apparent.