There is something I would like to recommend to people who insist that those who bow to Buddha statues should believe in idols. I would like to recommend you to stand in front of the simple Buddhist hall of Namjang Temple casually, or sit on the floor of the temple until you meet someone inside you. Yes, the Buddha statues is not an idol, but a self-portrait of us who have to wash off the poison and meet it in a moment.
Jung Chan-ju, [Temple for bow] (leerang, 2011)
Wood sculpture is a technique that has a long tradition of cutting and trimming wood to make valuable use. From very small home goods to objects used in palaces and temples, it was used to make large and small things. Wood carving is more than just making objects with purpose, and it is also a technique for carving beauty into objects.
Korean wood sculpture has developed around temple architecture and Buddhist statues since Buddhism was introduced during the Three Kingdoms Period. Therefore, there are many beautiful pieces of wood in Buddhist relics. Buddhism has had a great influence on Korean spiritual culture, and so has had a profound influence on technology and aesthetics. The Buddha statue, which is a hard and warm material, has its own beauty and tradition, with its magnificent, firm, yet water-like curves. The gracious smile of Buddha carved with wood contains Korea's excellent wood carving skills and outstanding aesthetic sense.
Area
Seoul
—
Material
Wood
—
Producer
No. 58 Intangible Cultural Property of Jeollabuk-do Mokjogakjang (Wood Sculpture)
