“Leave it as is.” The Maitreya Buddha of Duusa

As with many ancient sites around the Seosan area, not much is really known about this Mireukbul/Maitreya Buddha. Judging from the rather abstract features of its face, it’s assumed to be very old. Other than that, the only hint of its origin is a fun little legend.

In 1760, Mr Kim was foraging the slopes of Gayasan for arrowroot when he came across the statue. He loaded it onto his shoulders and began the long trek back to his village.

Around Inji-Myeon, he stopped for a rest and places the Buddha down on the ground. When it was time to keep moving, he tried to pick the Buddha back up but it he couldn’t budge it. He heard a voice call out. “그대로 두어라./Leave it as is.”

Startled, he looked around but there was no one else there. Again, he tried to lift the Buddha but was not able and again, the voice said, “Leave it as is.” He looked at the Buddha and knew that’s where the voice was coming from.

For twenty years, the Buddha stood beneath the ginkgo tree at the spot. Eventually, people from the surrounding villages began visiting the Buddha to offer prayers. In 1780, a shrine was built around it. It was originally known as Dueojeol, Leave It Temple, and later changed to its current name, Duusa.