Buddha Statue in Baekje

Here is a reproduction of a site where statues of Buddha were manufactured. Buddha statues made in Baekje are divided into four categories, depending on the type of material used, namely, stone, wood, gilt-bronze, and clay.

Here we will learn about how gilt-bronze statues were made. Look at the three different stages of construction in front of you.

The first figure is made of waxed clay. Following an architectural design, the first step was to make a frame using metal wire. The metal frame was then covered in clay and the rough shape of the statue molded. The statue was next covered with wax, and after that, the shape of the statue was refined. The figure was then covered with mud to form an outer frame and left to dry.

The next figure is made of brass. To make this figure, a dried, waxed Buddha statue was fired in a kiln. This process involved melting the wax between the inner and outer frames, thus leaving a gap. It was important to remove every trace of wax as otherwise the casting process would be compromised. Molten brass was then poured into the gap and left to cool and harden, whereupon the inner and outer frames were removed.

Finally, you can see that the statue has been covered with gold. This last step is the highlight in the sequence of processes. Powdered gold was melted in mercury and the liquid was evenly applied to the statue. When the statue was heated, the mercury evaporated, leaving behind only the gold residue.

The elegant, graceful Buddha statues of Baekje were crafted in this complicated manner, attesting to the exceptional talent of the kingdom’s artisans. The round faces and tranquil smiles of the statues give people a feeling of comfort and put them at their ease.