Gatbawi, Buddhist statue on Palgongsan Mountain, South Korea.
Gatbawi is a granite Buddha statue standing about 4 meters tall at Gwan Peak on Palgongsan Mountain. It wears an unusual flat stone hat and is designated as a Treasure of the Republic of Korea.
The statue dates from the 9th century during the Unified Silla period and was created by Buddhist monk Uihyeon at that elevation. It represents an era of significant stone sculpture in Korean Buddhist tradition.
Visitors come here to make wishes, guided by a local belief that the statue grants one sincere prayer to each person who visits.
Reaching the statue takes about two hours for a round trip on mountain paths from the base. You can choose between steep stone steps or gentler dirt trails depending on your fitness level.
Local legend tells of cranes appearing each night to protect the monk during carving and to guide his deceased mother's soul to paradise.
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