Wooden Seated Amitabha Buddha Triad of Jeongsusa Temple, Wanju

This Buddhist triad consists of Amitabha(the Buddha of the Western Paradise) in the center with Avalokitesvara(Bodhisattva of Great Compassion) and Mahasthamaprapta(Bodhisattva of Wisdom and Strength) to either side. 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 1652 by the renowned 17th-century artist Muyeom and six other sculptor-monks. It is presumed to have been originally enshrined in a temple in Jeonju and moved to Jeongsusa Temple in 1910.

Amitabha sits with his legs crossed. His right arm is bent at the elbow with the palm facing outwards, and the left hand is placed on the knee with the thumb and middle finger touching. This hand gesture symbolizes Amitabha giving a lecture to all beings. The two bodhisattvas, which are similar in shape and size, wear splendid jeweled headdresses and hold lotus stems.

This triad demonstrates a high level of execution, and, as the creation period and the subject of this triad is known, it is an important resource in the study of mid-17th-century Buddhist sculpture.

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