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Buddha Statue Discovered In North Korea. Rare Find May Reveal Little-Known Aspects Of Local Religious History
During excavations in Yakjon-ri, in South Pyongan Province, North Korea, researchers found a large Buddha statue. The discovery was made by the Archaeology Institute of the Academy of Social Sciences, in collaboration with the National Authority for Cultural Heritage Protection.
According to state news, the excavation revealed important historical relics. Among them is a Buddha statue standing 1.7 meters tall. The work dates back to the early Goryeo period, which lasted from 918 to 1392 AD.
Goryeo was a unified Korean kingdom, with its capital in present-day Kaesong. During this period, the kingdom thrived in trade, industry, art, and culture. It was also an era marked by the strong dominance of Buddhism, a central religion in the political and cultural life of the time.
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The Buddha statue represents Amitābha, a central figure in Mahayana Buddhism. Amitābha is one of the most revered Buddhas in East Asian Buddhist traditions. He is often depicted along with two assisting bodhisattvas: Avalokiteśvara, on the right, and Mahāsthāmaprāpta, on the left. This group is known as the “Amitābha Triad.”
Scholars analyzed the position of the statue’s hands and other visual characteristics. Based on this, they confirmed that the image depicts Amitābha. During the investigation, fragments of tiles were also found around the statue.
These fragments helped date the Buddha statue. According to researchers, the pieces are from the early 10th century. This information reinforces the direct connection to the beginning of the Goryeo period.
The iconographic tradition of the Amitābha Triad has ancient roots. It likely emerged in Gandhara and spread vigorously through the artistic traditions of China, Japan, and Korea.
“Through the analysis of the position of the two hands of the Buddha and other representations, scholars confirmed that it was the image of Amitābha. They also deepened the research on the surrounding tile pieces and discovered that they were made in the early 10th century, the initial period of Goryeo,” said KCNA.
The discovery of the Buddha statue reinforces the role of Buddhism as a key element in Korean culture during the Goryeo era. The study of the relics continues at the excavation site.
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