Myogilsang Buddhist statue explained

Hangul:묘길상
Rr:Myogilsang
Mr:Myogilsang

The Myogilsang Buddhist statue is a carved Bodhisattva located in the Grand Miruk Cliff in Manphok Valley, Inner Kumgang, North Korea. Dating from the Koryo period, it is 15 metres high and 9.4 metres wide.[1] The statue was once part of a larger temple dedicated to Manjushri (the Bodhisattva of wisdom) that was laid to waste in the late-Choson period, leaving only the carving. A painting dated 1768 in the National Museum of Korea in Seoul shows the carving inside the temple.[2]

It is the largest Buddhist stone image in Korea.[3]

The statue was visited by 150 tourists in 2007 as part of a pilot project to open the area to tourism from South Korea.[4]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Sculpture of the Bodhisattva . . June 2016 . . . June 5, 2016.
  2. Book: Chŏng, Yang-Mo . 1998 . Arts of Korea . New York . Metropolitan Museum of Art. 351 . 0870998501.
  3. Web site: Mt.Kŭmgang . . Korea Konsult . June 5, 2016.
  4. News: Jin . Ryu . May 31, 2007 . Mt. Geumgang Reveals Deeper Side of Elegance . . August 25, 2016 .