Clay Seated Vairocana Buddha Triad of Seonunsa Temple, Gochang

This triad consists of Vairocana as the principal buddha in the center with Bhaisajyaguru (Medicine Buddha) and Amitabha (Buddha of Western Paradise) to each side. Vairocana, the Cosmic Buddha, represents the truth body (Dharmakaya), i.e. the absolute universal knowledge. Bhaisajyaguru is believed to possess the power to heal illness and prolong one’s life, and Amitabha is believed to guide the dead to be reborn in the Buddhist paradise of the West.

There is an inscription on the underside of the pedestal of the Vairocana statue which states the identities of the triad and that the triad was made in 1633 by 10 monk sculptors, including Muyeom, one of the most renowned monk sculptors of the 17th century. The statues were made by applying clay to wooden pillars, then covered with layers of fabric the next year, and completed with lacquering and gilding. The detailed information in this inscription serves as a valuable benchmark in the study of Buddhist statues of the Joseon period (1392-1910).

The triad’s broad shoulders, long waists, and broad, low knees are typical of Buddhist statues made in the 16th and early 17th centuries, while their quaint eyes, flattened nose bridges, and slightly raised mouth corners that create a gentle smile are characteristic of works by Muyeom.

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