Rock-carved Seated Buddha at Dongburam Hermitage Site of Seonunsa Temple, Gochang

This rock-carved Buddha is said to have been made by Buddhist monk Geomdan, the founder of Seonunsa Temple, on the request of King Wideok (r. 554-598) of the Baekje kingdom. However, the sculptural features of this Buddha are more representative of rock-carved Buddhas made during later periods.

This Buddha is sitting on a pedestal carved with a lotus petal design. The carving measures 15.5 m in height and 8.5 m in width between the knees. There was once a wooden canopy above the Buddha’s head, built as a protective structure for the Buddha. Holes remain where the wooden canopy was once installed. The square carving at the center of the Buddha’s chest is believed to be a chamber for enshrining sacred objects. An old local legend says the chamber once contained a mythical divination about the country’s fortune.

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