Rock-carved Buddha Triad in Yonghyeon-ri, Seosan

In the front view of the Rock-carved Buddha Triad Image, which was created the late period of the Baekje Dynasty, the standing image in the middle is Shakyamuni Buddha, and on its left is the standing image of Dipamkara Buddha and on the right is the halfseated image of Maitreya in meditation. A rock-carved Buddha is a Buddhist image created by engraving lines or relieving forms on a natural rock. Buddha triad was a common theme popular in Northeast Asia in the 6th~7th centuries, but such a case as this showing both the images of standing Bodhisattva and half-seated Bodhisattva holding a treasure gem (寶珠) is not found in other countries including China, Japan, Kokuryo and Silla. This is a 2.8m tall gigantic Buddhist art work called 'the Smile of Baekje,' and the decent and flowing sculpture skill used in this work shows the beauty of moderation, neither too much nor too little. Unsan-myeon, Seosan-si, Chungcheongnam-do, the location of the Seosan Rock-carved Buddha Triad Image, was a strategic point on the transmission route of Chinese Buddhist culture to Buyeo, the capital of Baekje, via the Taean Peninsula. It was a place where Buddhist culture was flourishing in the 6th century, and the Seosan Rock-carved Buddha Triad Image is the evidence. In general, Buddhist statues of Baekje are largely divided into refined ones outstanding in the beauty of balance and giving the feeling of elegance and folksy ones gentle but majestic, and the Seosan Rock-carved Buddha Triad Image is a representative case of the second group.

Source: Korea Heritage Service signboard ↗ · collected 2026-10-08