The Most Unique Work in Shilla, Twin Lions Stone Lantern in Beopjoo-sa Temple

The twin lions stone lantern is the very unique in Korean buddhist art. This twin lions stone lantern could be found only in Shilla kingdom.

Moreover, lion was not usual animal in Korean peninsular. No scholars have answered the reason why this lion stone lantern could be existed in Shilla dynasty. Of course there were so many carvings relating to lions.

This image on lion seemed to be transferred from India or Persia. But as I wrote at first, this twin lions stone lantern could not be seen in Chinese and Japanese Buddhist temples. In this respect, the twin lion lantern must be very creative art works of Shilla dynasty. It means that this twin lions stone lantern make us to guess that style of mason craft came from the unusual route. In previous post, I suggested the Bodhisattva statue deeply influenced from other world.

In my guess, this statue could be considered as the evidence of the cultural exchange between Persia and Shilla.

Below are the parts of the lanterns.

The descriptions of the sculpture were very vivid and delicate.
The lantern was really well made work. Very well balanced.