Sculpture in Unified Silla had freed itself…
721 CE
Sculpture in Unified Silla had freed itself of stiffness at the outset of the eighth century and taken on a softened naturalistic look.
The standing Amitabha and Maitreya (dated 721) from the site of Kamsan Temple may be considered typical examples of the first half of the eighth century and as stylistic stepping stones leading to the fully mature sculptures of the Sokkuram cave temple of the mid-eighth century.
The main Buddha of the cave temple has a massive body and a full, round face.
Yet this is no mere hulking physical mass of monumental stone.
The tranquil facial expression, the solid massive curves of the upper torso, and the somewhat formalized, simple drapery are skillfully synthesized and radiate the spiritual power and grace of the Buddha.
The surrounding reliefs on oblong slabs are of the same quality.
In the case of the bodhisattvas, shapely feminine bodies are superbly reproduced on the rough granite surface; the curves, however, are covered by thin robes, executed in a stylized manner to de-emphasize the physical attractions and enhance the spiritual qualities.
These figures may have been inspired by similar T'ang figures, such as those executed in 703 for the Pao-ching Temple in Sian, China.
The Sokkuram figures, however, lack the secular and erotic character of the T'ang sculptures.
Silla is concerned also by the Balhae resurgence.
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