Buddhist steles are rectangular stones engraved with Buddhist images, which often bear inscriptions documenting their production. The production of Buddhist steles has a long history in China, dating back to the Northern Wei Dynasty (386–534) and continuing into the Tang Dynasty (618–907). Steles of various forms were used to record important information about accompanying statues, such as their production dates, patrons, and details of their historical and ideological context, and thus have enormous value for scholars and historians.

In contrast to China, Korea has relatively few extant examples of ancient Buddhist steles. However, seven Buddhist steles from the early Unified Silla period were discovered within the same region, drawing considerable attention from scholars and researchers. The largest and best-preserved of them is a Buddha triad stele with an inscription that reads “Gyeyu year.” Significantly, the body, platform, and roof stone are in relatively good condition, showcasing the representative form of a Buddhist stele from that period.

In 1960 and 1961, a total of seven Buddhist steles were discovered in Seogwangam Hermitage, Biamsa Temple, and Yeonhwasa Temple in Yeongi-gun (now Sejong City), as well as in the nearby area of Jeongan-myeon, Gongju. All of the Buddhist steles are made from dark gray pagodite stone and show the same carving techniques and styles, suggesting that they were likely produced by the same group of sculptors.

Four of these steles are engraved with inscriptions recording their dates and other details, revealing when and why they were made. The inscriptions include ganji characters that indicate a year in the Asian sixty-year calendar cycle, such as Gyeyu (癸酉), Muin (戊寅), and Gichuk (己丑), as well as surnames from the Baekje Kingdom, such as Jeon (全) and Jin (眞). Interestingly, the inscriptions also include the titles of official positions from both Silla, such as Naemal (乃末) and Daesa (大舍), and Baekje, such as Dalsol (達率).

After unifying the three kingdoms, Silla’s King Munmu (r. 661–681) granted official positions to high-ranking members of Baekje society. Details of this arrangement are recorded in the “Miscellaneous 9” section of volume 40 of History of the Three Kingdoms (三國史記) as follows:

“In the thirteenth year of King Munmu’s reign, government officials and employees from Baekje were granted equivalent positions in Silla. For officials in the capital city, former Dalsol (Baekje) became Daenama (Silla); former Eunsol became Nama; former Deoksol became Daesa; former Saji became Hansol; former Nasol became Dang; and former Jangdeok became Daeo. For officials in the provinces, former Dalsol (Baekje) became Gwigwan (Silla); former Eunsol became Seongan; former Deoksol became Sanggan; former Hansol became Gan; former Nasol became Ilbeol; and former Jangdeok became Ilcheok.”
“文武王十三年, 以百濟來人授內外官, 其位次視在本國官銜. 京官: 大奈麻本達率, 奈麻本恩率, 大舍本德率, 舍知本扞率, 幢本奈率, 大烏本將德. 外官: 貴干本達率, 選干本恩率, 上干本德率, 干本扞率, 一伐本奈率, 一尺本將德.”

Based on this record, in the thirteenth year of King Munmu’s reign (673), former officials from Baekje were granted equivalent positions in Silla. For example, Baekje officials of the second rank (Dalsol) became Daenama (also called Daenaemal); those of the third rank (Eunsol) became Nama (also called Naemal); and those of the fourth rank (Deoksol) became Daesa.

Thus, the presence of these official titles on the seven steles indicates that, in the early Unified Silla period, former officials and citizens of Baekje in the Yeongi region (former territory of Baekje) continued to carry out Buddhist practices.

This stele, which includes a Buddha triad, first came to the attention of the academic community in 1961. The following year, it was moved to the Gongju branch of the National Museum of Korea (now Gongju National Museum). The stele was reportedly discovered in the town of Jochiwon before being moved to Seogwangam Hermitage, where it was enshrined.

The platform and body are made from a single stone, while the roof stone is separate. At the bottom of the front side is a Buddha triad, with a central Buddha symmetrically flanked by one attendant bodhisattva on either side. The central Buddha is seated in the lotus position on a square pedestal, wearing a thick outer robe that covers both shoulders. The hem of the outer robe drapes down to cover the pedestal on both sides for added symmetry. Behind the Buddha’s head is a double halo, consisting of an inner circular halo with a band of dots around its outer edge, contained within a larger flame-shaped halo with an upper point. All of these details are consistent with the Baekje style of Buddhist sculpture.

The two bodhisattvas have an erect upright posture, and they are wearing narrow strips of ornamental cloth that cross like an “X,” a distinctive feature of bodhisattva images from the Three Kingdoms period.

The following eight-line inscription is engraved on each side of the Buddha triad, with four lines on either side:

“On the fifteenth day of the fourth month of the Gyeyu year (673), a group of Buddhists created statues of Buddhas and bodhisattvas from stone. These statues were made with reverence for the king, government officials, parents from the past seven lifetimes, and all sentient beings. The names of the 250 Buddhists who participated in this endeavor include Daesa Mr. Jin from Michanae; Daesa Sangsaeng; Daesa □Incha; Daesa □Seon; Sosa Chanbul; Sosa Isa; Sosa □□□; and □□.”
“歲癸未年四月十五日香徒釋迦及諸佛菩薩像造石記 是者爲國王大臣及七世父母法界衆生故敬造之 香徒各彌次乃眞牟氏大舍上生大舍□仁次大舍□宣大舍贊不小舍貳使小舍□□□小舍□□等二百五十(人)”

Aside from the area with the inscription and triad, the rest of the surface of the stele (on both sides) is covered with tiny Buddhas, giving it a very decorative character. These small Buddhas represent the common theme of “1000 Buddhas,” which symbolize the omnipresence of Buddha and Buddhism throughout the universe. Including some partially damaged areas, this stele seems to feature around 900 Buddhas, which can be interpreted as expressing the faith of the 1000 Buddhas.

In Korean Buddhist art, there are some individual free-standing statues that were produced as part of sets of 1000 Buddhas during the Three Kingdoms period, including a gilt-bronze Buddha with the inscription “seventh year of Yeonga,” as well as clay Buddha and bodhisattva statues excavated from Wono-ri in Pyongyang. However, this Buddhist stele is noteworthy as the earliest example of the 1000 Buddhas being carved together on a single stone.