TEMPLE ADVENTURES Korea's clay Buddha statues
Buddhism has existed on the Korean Peninsula, at least officially, since 372. And during this time, a countless amount of images of various Buddhas and Bodhisattvas have been produced. These images have been made from stone, wood, gilt-bronze, dry-lacquer and even clay. They were masterfully produced during the Three Kingdoms Period (18 BCE–660 CE), through Unified Silla (668-935), and up until the Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392). However, it was not until the neo-Confucian-supported Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), and its anti-Buddhist policies, that led to the steady suppression and decline of Buddhism and this art form. In fact, it’s not until the end of the 1592-98 Imjin War that we witness a reversal in Buddhist fortunes. After the Imjin War, and starting at the end of the 16th century, there was a lot of reconstruction in and around temples including of statues. The reason for this is that the Japanese destroyed nearly all of the most important temples on the Korean Peninsula. Buddhist monks served as warrior-monks during the Imjin War to help defend the Korean Peninsula. As a result o
Mar 3, 2024By Dale Quarrington
