Hwasun Daeri Seokbul Standing Statue | Attraction Guide

The Hwasun Daeri Seokbul Standing Statue is a stone Buddha from the late Joseon period. Stone Buddhas have been objects of faith since ancient times, reaching their peak during the Unified Silla period after Buddhism was introduced in the Three Kingdoms era. In the Goryeo period, reflecting the turbulent times, distinctive stone Buddhas were created in various regions. During the Joseon era, the anti-Buddhist policy hindered the production of Buddhist art, but stone Buddhas continued as objects of popular faith. The Hwasun Daeri Seokbul Standing Statue is 350cm tall, roughly shaped from natural stone close to a pillar, roughly squared. The face is carved in relief (carving letters or images so they stand out on a flat surface), while the rest of the body is rendered in incised lines. Made from granite, it features characteristics seen in jangseung such as a broad nose and bulging eyes, with a technique common in late Joseon period stone jangseung where the chin merges directly into the shoulders.