The stone statue unearthed from Jangchang’gok valley has been regarded as the Maitreya image of Samhwaryeong Pass, which is mentioned in the Samguk yusa (三國遺事). It has also been linked to the belief of Maitreya’s descent as foretold in Mile xiasheng chengfo jing (彌勒下 生成佛經). The image is unique in two aspects. First, it is the only known example of a seated Buddha statue with two legs pendant to have been produced in the mid-seventh century Silla, when pensive bodhisattva images were prevalent as the image representing Maitreya. Second, the statue was enshrined in a stone chamber which resembled a tomb with a horizontal access. The stone chamber is also generally regarded as the prototypical example of cave temples in Silla. Although a seated Buddha image with two legs pendant enshrined in a cave temple is rare in Silla, it was related to dhyana practice in contemporary China. The ultimate aim of those practicing dhyana early in China was to hear Maitreya preaching under a Dragon Flower Tree. The scriptural background to this, however, was not the Mile xiasheng chengfo jing but Guan Mile pusa shangsheng doushuaitian jing (觀彌勒菩薩上生兜率天經).