Wooden Seated Amitabha Buddha Triad of Bongseosa Temple, Seocheon

This Buddhist triad consists of Amitabha (the Buddha of the Western Paradise) in the center, flanked by Avalokitesvara (Bodhisattva of Great Compassion) and Mahasthamaprapta (Bodhisattva of Wisdom and Strength). It is believed that all beings who call the name of Amitabha while reflecting on his meritorious virtues can be reborn in the Buddhist paradise of the West.

According to a written vow found inside one of the statues, the triad was made in 1619 by a sculptor-monk named Suyeon. Suyeon was active in the early 17th century in the Chungcheong, Jeolla, and Gyeonggi regions. This particular triad is known to be his oldest extant work. The triad shows characteristics of Suyeon’s early works, such as small square faces, unusual facial features, disproportionately long upper bodies, and broad chests, as well as the stately look created by the deep creases of the robes.

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