9th-century Silla Portable Bodhisattva Excavated

홍성 절터서 9세기 신라 호신불 추정 금동불 출토

송고시간 | 2019-11-13 09:00

용봉산 상하리 사지 발굴…건물터 12기·청동방울 등도 나와

9th-century Silla Portable Bodhisattva Excavated 

SEOUL, Nov. 13 (Yonhap) -- Archaeologists have excavated in a Buddhist temple site at Hongseong-gun County, Chungcheongnam-do Province, a portable gilt bronze Bodhisattva statue, which was believed to have been made around the 9th century. 

The Research Institute of Buddhist Cultural Heritage said on the 13th that it has found 12 building site, a small guilt bronze statue of 7cm in height, pieces of bronze bells, etc. from the temple site at Sangha-ri, Hongbuk-eup near Hongseong-eup New City. 

This temple site is located in the middle of the ridge that runs southeast from the summit of Yongbongsan Mountain.

At the entrance of the site, there is a Standing Bodhisattva from the Goryeo Dynasty period carved on rock. 

The building sites were found on the foundations with stone retaining walls on the slope. 

Choi In-chang, a researcher from the Institute, said, "The construction periods of the building vary from the Unification Silla to the Joseon Dynasty." "the building layout is not as formal as that of temples on the plain." 

The Bodhisattva and pieces of bronze bell sculptures were excavated from the site of the Unified Silla Period. The statue is integrated with the pedestal and is in good condition. In addition, pieces of decorative ridge-end and roof-end tiles were found. 

Choi said, "It is the first time that a guilt bronze Buddhist statue emerged from the Unification Silla era in Hongseong area." "Judging from the artifacts comprehensively, this temple is believed to have been in high level." 

The survey have been conducted as part of a project to excavate non-designated cultural sites, which started from 2013 with the support of the Cultural Heritage Administration.

Mt. Yongbongsan (381m above sea level) surveyed this time is the first of the eight scenic spots at Hongseong, and it is known as a place where many Buddhist cultural assets are distributed along the ridge. The institute did a trial digging survey last year and conducted the first excavation this year.