Ttukseom is a station on the Seoul Subway Line 2. It is located in Seongsu-dong, Seongdong-gu, Seoul. A gilt-bronze image of a seated Buddha of the fourth or fifth century was recently discovered in Ttukseom in Seoul, which was part either of the Baekje or Goguryeo Kingdom, but it is also believed to be a Chinese import, as its style is strongly suggestive of the Northern Wei sculpture. If proven to be a Korean imitation of a Chinese Buddha, it would be the earliest example of a Korean-made Buddhist sculpture. The Ttukseom (Ttuksôm) Buddha (image), named for the area of Seoul in which it was discovered, is the earliest statue of Buddha in Korea. Scholars date it to the late fourth or early fifth century, around 400.
The five centimeter tall gilt-bronze statuette follows certain stylistic conventions originating in Ghandara (present-day Pakistan), and which were later adopted by China. These include the rectangular platform upon which the Buddha sits which depicts two lions, a common symbol of Buddha.
Additionally, it displays the dhyana mudra, a gesture of meditation commonly found in early seated Buddhas of China and Korea.
Several other gilt-bronze images were found in Sin-ni including a meditating Buddha which is very similar to the Ttukseom (Ttuksôm) Buddha and other small-standing Bodhisattva images.
Each individual Buddhist sculpture has various characteristics and attributes which art historians use as clues to determine when and where it was made. Sometimes a statue will have an inscription or contain a document which attests to when, where, and who made it.
|
|
Sometimes, there are reliable archaeological records which state where a statue was excavated.
Buddhistsculptures.com presents extensive information on Korean Buddhist sculpture and the vast field of Buddhist sculpture.
|
