Yeongju Buseoksa Joseodang Wooden Statue of Uisang Daesa Designated as Gyeongbuk Tangible Cultural Heritage

Celebrating the 1400th Anniversary of Uisang's Birth

On the 6th, Yeongju City in Gyeongbuk announced that the 'Buseoksa Josadang Wooden Seated Statue of Uisang Daesa (浮石寺祖師堂木造義湘大師坐像)' has been designated as a tangible cultural heritage of Gyeongsangbuk-do.

This Buddha statue was created to commemorate the teachings of Uisang Daesa, the founder of Buseoksa Temple, and is enshrined on the central altar of Josadang (a national treasure). The statue features a unique appearance with a shaved head, wearing blue and red monastic robes, and a somewhat indifferent expression, and is highly regarded for its excellent sculpting technique.

The exact creation period is unknown, but it is estimated to be from the early 17th century. The wooden seated statue of Uisang Daesa, produced within the tradition of creating monk statues since Buddhism was introduced to the Korean Peninsula, has been recognized for its outstanding artistic and historical value, leading to this designation.

The discovery of a handwritten restoration record among the relics found during the 2022 preservation process greatly influenced the designation. The record includes details of the repainting work done on the Uisang Daesa statue in 1882 and the Buddhist painters who participated, providing important clues to confirm the historical context of the statue.

With this designation, the World Heritage site Buseoksa now holds a total of 17 designated cultural heritages, including 5 national treasures, 9 treasures, and 3 tangible cultural heritages of the province.

Park Nam-seo, mayor of Yeongju City, said, “2025 marks the 1400th anniversary of Uisang Daesa’s birth, and the designation of this seated statue as a tangible cultural heritage adds significance,” and added, “We will discover and preserve the value of the World Heritage site Buseoksa and actively utilize it.”