Standing Avalokiteshvara

Three Kingdoms Period, 1st half of 7th century
h. = 33 cm (13 in)
Daegu National Museum
Daegu, Korea

Buddhism first entered Korea from China in the late 4th century, so that by the end of the Three Kingdoms the religion had become thoroughly established. These statues of Avalokiteshvara are beautiful examples of the highly-developed state of Buddhist art at the time. Although found together in the same spot, their stylistic differences imply they were created separately from each other and only brought together later. The statue on the left is shaped in a "boneless" style and holds a lotus bud aloft in his right hand; compare the iconographically similar but artistically less accomplished statue in Buyeo NM. The statue on the right has a substantial physical presence and elaborate costume; his original lotus pedestal is now missing.