Stone Seated Buddha in Bakgok-ri, Cheongdo

This statue is presumed to have been made between the 8th and 9th centuries during the Unified Silla period (668-935).

The Buddha is depicted sitting in a lotus position on an octagonal pedestal. The height of the figure is 1.54 m, and its height combined with the pedestal measures 2.76 m. The curves on the Buddha’s torso are realistically rendered and give the statue a voluminous look. The right hand of the Buddha reaches down toward the ground and his left hand rests on his lap, symbolizing the moment of his defeat of worldly desires and his attainment of spiritual enlightenment under the Bodhi tree.

Although the statue and the pedestal were severely damaged during a fire in 1928, it is still considered a good example of the Silla kingdom’s finest Buddhist sculpture.

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