Seated Stone Buddha at Mireukgok Valley, Namsan Mountain, Gyeongju

This is a stone seated Buddha statue located at Borisa Temple on Namsan Mountain in Gyeongju. It has both a halo and a pedestal, and resembles the main Buddha of Seokguram Grotto, but is much more stylized. The face is round but not plump, with narrow eyes, a sharp nose, and distinct lips, showcasing the spiritual nobility and extraordinary sculpting skill of the Silla people in the 8th century. The statue has complex drapery folds, a relatively flat chest, and somewhat small knees, which, along with the body proportions, show a transition from the ideal form of 8th-century Buddhist statues to the style of the 9th century. The halo, made separately from the statue, is ornately decorated with floral patterns, flame patterns, and small jewels. A unique feature is the line engraving on the back of the halo of the Medicine Buddha (Yaksa-yeorae) holding a medicine bowl in the left hand. Since it is said that the Medicine Buddha is in the East and Amitabha Buddha is in the West, this stone seated Buddha is sometimes regarded as Amitabha Buddha.