Stories of Korea’s National Treasures 45
Photo Credit: Cultural Heritage Administration of Korea
Clay Seated Buddha of Buseoksa Temple
(Yeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do)
🏯 1. The Buddha of Timeless Compassion
Within the Muryangsujeon Hall of Buseoksa Temple in Yeongju sits a figure of serene grace — the Clay Seated Buddha (Sojo Yeorae Jwasang), a masterpiece of Korean Buddhist art that has watched over generations in stillness.
Created during the late Unified Silla to early Goryeo period (9th–10th century), the statue embodies the deep harmony between spiritual faith and artistic refinement.
It is believed to represent Amitabha Buddha, the Buddha of Infinite Light, whose compassionate gaze welcomes all beings into peace.
As sunlight filters softly through the temple’s wooden lattice, the Buddha’s calm face seems almost alive — radiating warmth and understanding that transcend time.
🪨 2. Structure and Artistic Expression
The statue is made of clay mixed with straw and natural fiber, molded over a wooden frame, and coated with a thin layer of lacquer and pigment.
Standing about 1.3 meters high, it sits in a lotus position, hands gently forming the samadhi mudra — the gesture of deep meditation.
The robe flows naturally, folding in graceful curves that convey both movement and stillness.
Its face, full and symmetrical, carries a tender smile known as the “Silla smile” — an expression that reveals the compassionate nature of enlightenment rather than the austerity of divinity.
The clay medium gives the sculpture a warmth distinct from stone or bronze; it feels alive, soft, and human, reflecting the belief that the Buddha’s mercy lives among people, not apart from them.
🌄 3. The Spirit of Buseoksa Temple
Buseoksa Temple, founded by the great monk Uisang in the 7th century, has long been a center of Korean Buddhism.
The Clay Seated Buddha, enshrined within its oldest hall, stands as the spiritual heart of the temple — a symbol of unbroken continuity between faith, art, and nature.
The word Buseoksa means “Temple of the Floating Stone,” drawn from a legend in which a stone miraculously supported Uisang’s mission to spread Buddhism.
In the same spirit, the Buddha here seems to float in serenity — anchored not by weight, but by compassion.
🌿 4. Preservation and Legacy
Despite its fragile material, the Clay Seated Buddha of Buseoksa Temple has survived more than a thousand years with remarkable preservation.
Its delicate features, subtle coloring, and organic form continue to inspire awe among art historians and pilgrims alike.
Designated National Treasure No. 45, this statue is revered as one of Korea’s greatest clay sculptures, representing the synthesis of faith, humanity, and craftsmanship that defines Korean Buddhist art.
Today, as visitors kneel before the figure, they are met not by grandeur, but by gentleness — the quiet power of a smile that has outlasted empires.
💬 5. A Warm Reflection
“This Buddha does not gaze down from heaven —
it sits among us, smiling.
In its stillness, it teaches that compassion
needs neither sound nor motion,
only presence.”
📌 Notice
The National Treasure number indicates the order of designation, not a ranking of value.
For more information, please visit the 👉National Heritage Portal