Why The Seated Bronze Amitabha Buddha

The Seated Bronze Amitabha Buddha is an extraordinary h 82cm Buddhist sculpture made during the Goryeo Dynasty, 12th century - 13th century. The sculpture is from the collection of the National Museum of Korea and it is made of cast bronze. This Buddha, is the central symbol of eternal light and longevity. Through this beautiful sculpture we can see the perfect relationship between culture and faith. As all the statues of Buddha's, this gilt bronze statue was made to represent more than a religion. The statue brings peace and happiness to all who view them.

This Seated Bronze Amitabha Buddha particularly has an amazing historical background that we must take into account in order to fully appreciate it. First, we need to know that Buddhism did not always exist in Korea. Before Buddhism reached this country, there were 3 kingdoms battling for the piece of land northeast of the kingdom of China; Goryeo, Silla, and Gaya. Wang Geon, a general who had served a prince of Silla unified the three kingdoms and ruled most of the Korean peninsula. Buddhism reached a great splendor until
528 BCE, and it was precisely this what stimulated the construction of temples and carving of Buddha images.

Now that we know how the Buddhism reached to Korea, we can talk about the impact it had on the expression of art across the Kingdom. During the Goryeo Dynasty, Buddhism was not only established as the official state religion but it also gave rise to many

inventions related to Buddhism.
The bronze casting techniques that were used at that time for the manufacture of coins, bells and statues, were adapted to make other types of metal. Koreans used a model based on the creation of sand molds and casting method. Moreover, the casting of bronze at that time developed a unique style in the representation of ritual objects. But it was also used for other purposes; bronze daggers for example, represented prestige and authority. The bronze was an important element in ceremonies and in funeral offering. Seeing this, we can get an idea of the importance of Buddhism at that time, not only in Korea but in a greater part of Asia. Most of the Buddha's sculptures were made of cast bronze. For example, we have the gorgeous gilt bronze figure of Avalokiteshvara from Nepal, 13th century. The medieval Nepalese were among the finest bronze casters in the
world.

Another very important aspect is what this sculpture in particular represents. If we see his face we can realize the missing gem in the middle of his forehead that symbolizes the third eye that sees all. Amitabha Buddha is shown in the state of meditation by the use of a Vitarka mudra. Another meaningful thing that gives us a clue about his Korean descent, are his clothes. The characteristic feature of the sculpture is the way the monastic robe covers both shoulders, unlike the flowing monk robes of the traditionally known Buddha. He is in full lotus position; one foot resting on the knee of the other leg. Therefore, we know this figure to be a Buddha, even though he is missing the trademark knob of wisdom on the top of his head. The additional detail of the ornament attached to the Buddha’s upper robe under the left chest is another traditional feature of Goryeo Buddhist sculptures.

Personally, what got me to this sculpture first was its size and the expression of his face. Certainly, his posture and expression primarily transmits peace and tranquility. The dimensions of the face are proportional to those of the body, and we could say that in general is a very symmetrical image. The golden color that is seen mainly in the face and tunic make the overall image of the sculpture really pleasing to the eye. I am fascinated by this sculpture for how much it represents, the time it was made gives us many facts about the century, religion and customs in general of the people in those moments in history. Each expression of art whether sculpture, painting or photography, has a purpose; a message. This statue is an excellent example of Korean Buddhist artwork at its finest, creating a balance between the integration of the culture of the Korean community and the faith in the Buddhist doctrine. So, with The Seated Bronze Amitabha Buddha we can see the variety of ways that postures, symbols, materials, and beliefs have told the story of Buddhism throughout Asia at different times in history.