Stone Seated Buddha in Jeungchon-ri, Sangju

This statue depicts Bhaisajyaguru the Medicine Buddha, who is believed to possess the power to heal illness and prolong one's life. It is presumed to have been made in the 8th to 9th centuries during the Unified Silla period (668-935).

The statue is seated on an octagonal pedestal engraved with lotus designs, which is a common 8th-century style. He holds a medicine bowl in his left hand next to his belly, which is a defining hand gesture of Bhaisajyaguru. The robe is depicted draping over both shoulders and closely hugging the lines of the body. There is a hole on the back of the statue which suggests that the statue once originally had a halo.

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