The Giant Iron Buddha of Goryeo

Full transcript

Annyeong, yeoreobun! It's Yul. In the Buddhist sculpture room on the third floor, there's someone very big waiting for you. A seated Buddha, almost three meters tall. And he's not made of stone or gold. He's made of iron.

This statue comes from a temple site in Hasachang-dong, in Hanam, just east of Seoul. It was made in the early Goryeo dynasty, more than a thousand years ago. It's one of the largest iron Buddhas in Korea.

Why iron? Around that time, at the end of Silla and the beginning of Goryeo, iron Buddhas became popular. Bronze was expensive, and iron was easier to get. Local powerful families and temples could make huge statues to show their faith, and their strength.

But iron is tricky. You can't polish it like gold. Experts think statues like this were once covered with a layer of lacquer or gold, so they looked shiny and bright. Over a thousand years, that layer disappeared, and now we see the dark, raw metal. Honestly? I think it looks even more powerful this way.

Look at the body and the face. Many experts say this Buddha follows the style of the famous Seokguram Buddha in Gyeongju: wide shoulders, a straight back, and a calm, round face. So even after Silla fell, its most beautiful Buddha still inspired the artists of the new kingdom.

And here's a fun fact. A statue this big couldn't be cast in one piece. It was made in sections, and if you look carefully, you can find the lines where the pieces were joined.

Yul's tip! Stand in front of him for a moment and look up. The room is quiet, and the iron feels heavy and warm at the same time. It's the perfect spot to take a deep breath before the celadon room next door.