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Dry-lacquered Seated Bhaisajyaguru Buddha and Excavated Relics of Cheongnyangsa Temple, Bonghwa

봉화 청량사 건칠약사여래좌상 및 복장유물 ( 奉化 淸凉寺 乾漆藥師如來坐像 및 腹藏遺物 )

Heritage Search Detail
Classification Treasure
Name of Cultural Properties Dry-lacquered Seated Bhaisajyaguru Buddha and Excavated Relics of Cheongnyangsa Temple, Bonghwa
Quantity 1 statue and 208 objects in 19 categories
Designated Date 2016.11.16
Age
Address Bonghwa-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do

The statue of Bhaisajyaguru Buddha enshrined in Cheongnyangsa Temple in Bonghwa was made using the dry lacquer technique by which a roughly modeled clay core was covered with layers of lacquered hemp cloth, each layer being left to dry before adding the next layer. While the statue is widely believed to have been enshrined in Yuribojeon Hall, the main dharma hall of the temple since ancient times, it exhibits the sculptural style of Unified Silla (676-935) as represented by the principal Buddha of Seokguram Grotto. Although there is no record showing exactly when the statue was made, two times of radiocarbon dating on the lacquered hemp cloth suggests that it was made between the late eighth and early tenth century, which would make it one of the two oldest known dry lacquer statues in Korea, the other being that of the Buddhist monk Huirang at Haeinsa Temple in Hapcheon, which is known to have been made around 930.