Wooden Seated Sakyamuni Buddha Triad of Songnimsa Temple, Chilgok

The Wooden Seated Sakyamuni Triad at Songnimsa Temple consists of Sakyamuni Buddha flanked by Manjusri and Samantabhadra Bodhisattvas, forming a traditional Sakyamuni Triad arrangement. According to a dedication document (vow text) found inside the statues, they were created in 1657 (the 8th year of King Hyojong’s reign) by a group of eight Buddhist sculptor-monks led by Dowoo.

The principal image, Sakyamuni Buddha, is a large wooden statue approximately 277 cm in height. The Buddha’s right hand is extended downward and the left hand rests on the knee in the bhumisparsha mudra (the earth-touching gesture). The two attendant Bodhisattvas hold long lotus stems in both hands; these lotus stems and the crowns (bogwan) are believed to have been later restorations.

The triad is characterized by a robust and dignified body, a solemn yet gentle facial expression with a subtle smile, and simply rendered but powerful folds in the robes. These stylistic features are typical of Buddhist sculptures produced in the mid-17th century.

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