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Standing Buddha of Medicine
By the sixth century, Buddhism had become the official religion throughout the Korean peninsula. Buddhist sculpture created during that time begins to show distinctive indigenous characteristics and reflects as well Korea's diverse contacts with other artistic traditions.

This statue dated to the first half of the seventh century, probably from the kingdom of Silla, portrays a Buddha holding a round jewel-like object, which is believed to be a symbol of healing, leading to the tentative identification of this image as Bhaishajyaguru, the Buddha of Medicine. His left hand raised in the fear-not gesture, the figure stands in the tribhanga, or thrice-bent posture, a style prevalent in India during the Gupta period (4th-6th century). The influence of the Gupta stylistic tradition is also visible in the clinging drapery. The baring of one shoulder, characteristic of images of this type of Buddha in seventh-century Silla, is not often found in Chinese or other Korean Buddhist sculpture and may reflect as well the influence of Indian Buddhist art, possibly transmitted through Southeast Asia and southern China.

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