Buddhas of four Directions / 경주 동천동 사방불 탑신석 / 慶州東川洞四方佛塔身石

A Stupa's Body Stone on which the Buddhas of the four directions are carved 

Located at Dongcheon-dong, Gyeongju 

경주 동천동 사방불 탑신석 / 慶州東川洞四方佛塔身石 

Currently about 82cm high, the rock was part, especially budy of a stone stupa. Other stone stupa and building materials are scattered around, which implies that there was a Buddhist temple surrounding this area. In addition, fragments of roof tiles from the unified Silla period and Goryeo celadon have been found nearby. 

On each of the four sides of the square stone is carved one Buddha respectively. This four direction Buddha image began to appear in Korean Buddhist art history after the middle of 8th century. 

This sculpture is considered to be a work in the 9th century, the end of the Unified Silla period, in terms of techniques or 얀relics discovered around.  

photo by Seyun Oh