Stone Lantern at Muryangsujeon Hall of Buseoksa Temple, Yeongju

A Unified Silla stone lantern in front of Muryangsujeon at Buseoksa. A stone lantern stands for the light of the Buddha — it is also called a lamp of radiance — and is usually set before a main hall or a pagoda. A housing for the flame sits at the centre, on three tiers of support, with a roof stone above and a finial on top. The square ground slab is patterned on its sides, and the support above it carries a large lotus that holds the shaft. The shaft is the standard octagonal kind, and its thickness against its height is beautifully judged; above it an upper support is carved with lotus. The octagonal housing has four openings to let the light out, and on the other four faces bodhisattvas are carved with real finesse. The roof stone is octagonal too, its corners lifting lightly. Only the stone that carried the finial is left at the top. It is the most beautiful lantern of the Unified Silla period: the proportions are in harmony, and it manages to be ornate and restrained at once. The precision of the four bodhisattvas around the housing is what sets it apart.

AI Translation

Visiting

Opening hours

Open 24 hr

Closed

N/A (Open all year round)

Admission

Free

Parking

Available

Information

+82-54-633-3464

Visitor information: Korea Tourism Organization · KOGL Type 1

Where it is

Region

Yeongju, Gyeongbuk

Designation

National Treasure · 국보