Osu-ri Stone Buddha

About this place

The Osu-ri stone Buddha is a Goryeo-period stone Buddha in Gwanwol Village, Jeollabuk-do, made of granite. The lower body, which had been buried underground, was excavated and restored so that the standing statue can now be fully appreciated. In this statue, the halo and the Buddha are carved from a single stone; the main-form halo (juheong-geoshin-gwangbae) is indicated by two lines, with lotus patterns inside and flame patterns outside, and a small buddha carved at the very top. The Mireuk Buddha's head has snail-shell curls (nabal) with a small topknot (usnisa), and a round face. The ears are long, with three rings (samdo) on the neck, narrow shoulders, and a somewhat flat physique. According to a legend passed down for over 300 years, a huge boulder came walking down from the back mountain; a woman who saw it shouted loudly and it stopped in place, and the villagers, realizing it was a stone Buddha, have been paying respects ever since.