Twin Lion Stone Lantern of Beopjusa Temple, Boeun

A Unified Silla stone lantern standing between the main hall and the five-storey wooden pagoda at Beopjusa. It is the oldest carved-lion stonework in Korea and unusual in form. On a broad octagonal base two lions stand chest to chest, their hind feet on the stone below and their forepaws and muzzles carrying the stone above. Lotus is carved on both stones, and the double row of petals on the upper one has an archaic air. Of the lion carvings that survive these are the finest: the manes, the legs and the muscles of the bodies are all rendered from life. The lamp housing is octagonal and tall, with openings cut in four sides to let the light out. The roof stone runs level under the eaves and lifts a little at each of its eight corners; with no ornament on it, it looks plain and settled. The lantern is thought to have been raised in 720. Unified Silla lanterns usually stood on an octagonal shaft, so two lions in its place must have been a striking departure — and it was imitated in Silla's own time and long afterwards.

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Visiting

Opening hours

Sunrise-Sunset

Closed

N/A (Open all year round)

Admission

Individuals - Adults 5,000 won / Teenagers 2,500 won / Children 1,000 won<br> Groups - Adults 4,000 won / Teenagers 1,600 won / Children 800 won<br><br> * Adults (ages 19-65) / Teenagers (ages 13-18) / Children (ages 7-12)

Parking

Available (Temple parking lot)

Information

• 1330 Travel Hotline: +82-2-1330 <br> (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)<br> • For more info: +82-43-543-3615

Visitor information: Korea Tourism Organization · KOGL Type 1

Where it is

Region

Boeun, Chungbuk

Designation

National Treasure · 국보