Sangju Jeungchon-ri Stone Standing Buddha

About this place

The Sangju Jeungchon-ri Stone Standing Buddha is a 1.98-meter-tall stone standing Buddhist figure enshrined at Yonghwasa Temple in Sangju, Gyeongsangbuk-do, in which the halo and the statue are carved from a single stone. It is heavily worn and fine details cannot be closely examined. The head cannot be clearly distinguished but appears shaved, with a large topknot (usnisa) rising at the crown. The face is long and plump with indistinct features but a composed expression. The body is upright, and the robe draped over both shoulders is rendered simply. The halo (gwangbae), which represents the light emanating from the Buddha's body, is also severely worn, and only faint traces of flame motifs along the edges can be identified. The statue's body contour is weak, and the drooping shoulders and stiff hands convey a somewhat constrained, reduced sense. The well-composed body and somewhat stiff, realistic quality are characteristic of late Unified Silla standing Buddha figures.