Stone Seated Amitabha Buddha Triad of Songnimsa Temple, Chilgok

This Buddhist triad enshrined inside Sancheonbuljeon Hall of Songnimsa Temple consists of Amitabha (Buddha of the Western Paradise) flanked by two attendant bodhisattvas, Avalokitesvara (Bodhisattva of Great Compassion) and Ksitigarbha (Bodhisattva of Great Vows).

This triad was made in 1655 under the supervision of the sculptor monk Dou. The statues are made of zeolite sourced from the Gyeongju area. The triad is the earliest extant work supervised by Master Dou. It is presumed that Dou, who specialized in wood sculpture, chose zeolite from among other types of stone due to its natural softness which made it easier for him to work with.

The Buddha and two bodhisattvas are depicted with their hands resting on their knees, which is a common element of Buddhist statues made in the late period of the Joseon dynasty (1392-1910). This triad is one of the earliest zeolite sculptures to feature this hand gesture. and imposing bodies, the solemn facial expressions, the subtle smies, and the simple but prominent folds of their robes.

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