Sangga-ri Mireuk Buddha

About this place

The Sangga-ri Mireuk Buddha in Deoksan-myeon, Yesan-gun, Chungcheongnam-do, takes the overall form of a stone pillar. It is generally called Mireuk (Maitreya) Buddha, but in terms of its form, it represents Avalokitesvara (Guanyin Bodhisattva). The head wears a floral-patterned crown with a small transformation buddha (hwabul) carved in the center, and the headband ties hang down to the shoulders. The face is elongated but the cheeks are plump, the eyes are gently lowered, and the nose tip is damaged. The ritual garment is draped over the right shoulder and flows naturally from the left. Both arms are pressed against the body, the right hand raised to the chest and the left hand pressing against the abdomen. This style of Buddha image was popular during the Goryeo period and is widely distributed in the Chungcheong region.