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CultureBalhae (8th–9th century)

Balhae Image of Two Buddhas Seated Side by Side

Also called: Two Buddhas Seated Side by Side

A Balhae image of two Buddhas seated side by side. Seen as continuing the Goguryeo tradition, it is cited as evidence that Balhae succeeded Goguryeo.

Balhae image of two Buddhas seated side by side, Balhae gallery of the National Museum of Korea
Balhae image of two Buddhas seated side by side, Balhae gallery of the National Museum of Korea

Gary Todd · CC0 · Source

The image shows the Buddhas Sakyamuni and Prabhutaratna seated side by side, a scene from the Lotus Sutra. Several examples have been found in former Balhae lands, including the Baliancheng site in Hunchun, Jilin, thought to be Balhae’s Eastern Capital (Dongyeong Yongwonbu).

The type had been popular in Goguryeo, so Balhae’s images of two seated Buddhas are used as evidence that Balhae’s Buddhist art carried on from Goguryeo. With Princess Jeonghye’s tomb (a stone-chamber tomb with a lantern ceiling), ondol heating and lotus-pattern roof tiles, they appear often in questions on Balhae’s Goguryeo heritage — while Princess Jeonghyo’s brick tomb, the grand avenue of Sanggyeong and the brick Yeonggwang pagoda show Tang influence.

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States and rulers at the time
Balhae — King Gang (Dae Sung-rin)

Before and after

Earlier
AD 788 The Dokseo Sampumgwa
Later
AD 818 King Seon and the “Flourishing Land in the East”

Themes that include this event

  • Changes in Buddhist StatuesAD 539 – 1100

    From a Goguryeo gilt-bronze Buddha in Northern Wei style and "the smile of Baekje" to the Seokguram Buddha, Balhae’s twin Buddhas, early Goryeo iron Buddhas and colossal regional stone figures