Korea, the head 8th/9th century, the stand 18th century.H. 32/45 cmTwo-piece bust with head of Buddha Shakyamuni made of stone, probably dated to the 8th/9th century. Fine facial features with downcast eyes under arched eyebrows that merge into the bridge of the nose above a closed mouth with full lips. The hair combed in spiral curls with low 'usnisha' with 'ratna'. The stand in the form of the breast part with arms cut on the sides made of wood with partial gold lacquer finish.Collection Dr. Rainer Kreissl (1924 - 2005) - Important South German private collection, acquired at Neumeister Munich, 4.11.1982, Lot 425Buddhism, which came from China in the fourth century, quickly took root in Korea and, despite its foreign roots, became an influential political, religious, and cultural force during the Three Kingdoms period (57 BC-668 AD) and the subsequent unified Silla dynasty (668-935 AD). The earliest Korean Buddhist sculptures, dated to the late fourth or early fifth century, are made of gilded bronze and fired clay and closely follow contemporary Chinese models. By the seventh century, however, distinct Korean styles and iconographic types had emerged, such as the world-famous gilt bronze sculpture depicting the pensive Bodhisattva Maitreya (National Treasure No. 83), now in the collection of the National Museum of Korea in Seoul (see: National Museum of Korea, Masterpieces of Early Buddhist Sculpture, 100 BCE - 700 CE, Seoul: National Museum of Korea, 2015, pp. 272-275, no. 129). In 660 CE, the Silla Kingdom conquered Baekje and defeated Goguryeo (37 BCE - 668 CE) in 668 CE through an alliance with Tang China, thus ending the Three Kingdoms period, establishing the unified Silla Dynasty, and politically unifying the peninsula. Buddhism enjoyed state patronage during the unified Silla period. Two of Korea's greatest architectural monuments, Bulguk-sa Temple and Seokguram Grotto, were built under royal patronage between 751 AD and 774 AD in the Silla capital, now Gyeongju. Both temples still stand today and were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1995. As shown not only by the exquisite stone reliefs at Seokguram, but also by the magnificent stone head in this sale, the sculptures from the Unified Silla period are among the most serene Buddhist sculptures ever created in Korea. These majestic Korean sculptures rightly take their place among the masterpieces of world sculpture.