Wooden Seated Amitabha Buddha of Yongmunsa Temple, Yecheon

This gilded wooden statue, enshrined as an attendant buddha of a Buddhist triad in Bogwangmyeongjeon Hall of Yongmunsa Temple, depicts a seated Amitabha (Buddha of the Western Paradise). It is unknown when it was first created, but according to a written vow found inside the statue, it underwent a major repair from 1514 to 1515.

It is believed that all beings who call the name of Amitabha while reflecting on his meritorious virtues can be reborn in the Buddhist paradise of the West. The statue measures 90 cm in height and 58 cm in width at the knees. The head is large for the size of his body, but together with the wide knees gives a balanced impression. The statue features several characteristics of 15th-16th century Buddhist statues, such as the double-layered robes, the natural folds of the clothing, and the semi-circular jewel among the curly hair.

According to the written vow found inside the statue, the statue was made by lay craftsmen, including painters, carpenters, and metalworkers, rather than Buddhist sculptor-monks. A document recording the names of several hundred funders was also found inside the statue. There are few extant written records about Buddhist statues made in the early period of the Joseon dynasty (1392-1910), making this statue especially valuable in the research of Buddhist sculpture.

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