Rock-carved Buddhas in Noseok-ri, Chilgok

The Rock-carved Buddha Triad at Noseok-ri in Chilgok consists of four Buddha figures carved on a rock face on the middle slope of Mt. Dogo, facing east across the Nakdong River. The carvings are shallowly engraved on the rock surface and date back to the early Unified Silla period (7th–8th century). The central Buddha is flanked by two attendant Bodhisattvas, and an additional small Buddha figure is carved next to the right Bodhisattva.

The central Buddha features a relatively large face with clearly defined facial features, and around the head is a halo (gwanbae) decorated with elegant floral patterns. The left Bodhisattva wears a crown (bogwan), faces the central Buddha, and holds a lotus stem in the left hand and a boju (jewel) in the right. The pointed lotus design on the pedestal resembles that of the eastern Bodhisattva from the Rock-carved Buddha Group at Tapgok, Namsan in Gyeongju (Treasure).

The right Bodhisattva is especially notable for crossing the ankles—an extremely rare posture, and the only known example among Korean Buddhist sculptures.

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