Buddha Relief In The Temple Bota-sa In Seoul, Korea

Several days ago there was a chance to look around the temples in Seoul.
Even though I have lived in Seoul for more than 40 years, I don’t know very well about the appearance of my city.
I had tried to travel far away, but I didn’t try to look around my near place.
I think you may have same experience like me.

He is foreigner who realize me that there are so many amazing place in Seoul.
I could look around several temples in Seoul with his guide.

He was a specialist in Buddhism. He had travelled so many countries to find out himself.
Naturally he had travelled India and Nepal to search for the roots of Buddhism.

We had visited several temples in Seoul with his explanation.
Among them, I’d like to introduce you 2 reliefs of Buddha. All of them were listed in the National treasury.

The first relief was located near the Korea University in northern part of Seoul city.
It was Bota-sa where I’d like to introduce you in this posting.

Actually I had studied in the Korea University for more than 15 years, and I had had a close relationship with the guys studying together until now
But I didn’t notice there was a National treasury at such a close distance from the University.

It was said that this temple was built in at the age of Goryeo dynasty.
The temple Bota-sa was small, calm and peaceful like an oasis in the city.

Best of all was it looked like a hidden temple.
You can take a rest in the temple when you are tired and exhausted.

The relief seemed to have been carved in more than 700 thousand years ago.
There was no record on the creation of this relief, but according to the scholars this kind of carving style was popular at the late time of Goryeo Kingdom and the early Choson dynasty.

There were a few people to see the relief when we dropped by.
It’s size was about 4M high.

The most impressive thing was it’s face was very well balanced.
It meat the relief looked handsome.

It’s face was not similar to the ordinary relief Buddha comparing to other Buddha statue
Below was the Buddha statue in Goryeo Kingdom I photoed in Daejeon city.

It was well carved and it’s slight smile made me comfortable.

After finishing excursion, I heard there was another national treasury in that temple.
It is said that the gold painted bronze sitting Buddha statue.
I was sorry, but it's not bad. I have another reason to come by Bota-sa once again.

2018, 08, June.