In Korea, reclining Buddha statues are exceptionally rare. One theory suggests that artisans initially attempted to carve an upright statue but failed, resulting in its current horizontal form. However, the rock's structure indicates that the statue was never intended to stand upright; instead, it was carved directly into a broad bedrock surface. A legend further claims that State Preceptor Doseon, founder of Unjusa Temple, tried to create 1,000 Buddhas and pagodas overnight. When the rooster crowed at dawn, his final attempt to erect this reclining Buddha failed, leaving it incomplete.

Typically, reclining Buddhas are depicted lying on their side to represent the Buddha’s entry into nirvana, a pivotal scene in Buddhist iconography. However, Korea lacks a continuous tradition of crafting such statues, which may explain why the two reclining Buddha statues at Unjusa Temple deviate from standard forms.

Both statues share nearly identical facial and bodily features, confirming they were carved by the same artisan during the same period. Their faces, rendered in shallow relief, display schematized eyes, noses, and mouths, resembling traditional Korean guardian posts. The robes, carved with evenly spaced folds, follow conventional styling. Though the hands are carved directly onto the rock surface without three-dimensionality or realism, they mimic ritual hand gestures. Narrow shoulders, flat chests, and a lack of anatomical curves give the figures a pillar-like rigidity. The upper rock surface was shaped into a halo-like backdrop, with a deeper groove between the two Buddhas, showcasing the artisans’ adaptation to the natural bedrock. These statues hold significance as rare examples of horizontally oriented Buddhas in Korean Buddhist art.