Nine-story Stone Pagoda in Seojeong-ri, Cheongyang

This pagoda stands in the middle of a field 23 km from Gongju towards Cheongyang. A temple called Baekgoksa is said to have stood nearby in the Goryeo period, but apart from scattered roof-tile fragments no other relics can be found in the area. The pagoda has a nine-storey body set on a two-tiered base. The lower tier of the base is carved all around with ansang, an arch-shaped niche design, its base line rising into a flower shape that reveals a stylistic feature typical of the Goryeo period. The upper tier of the base has pillar shapes carved at the four corners and at the centre of each side, and is capped with a stone slab of suitable thickness, giving it a stable appearance. A distinctive feature is the large first storey of the body; from the second storey up the height decreases noticeably, but the width does not narrow much, giving an elegant impression. The underside of the roof stones has five tiers of eaves-supports on the first storey and three tiers on each of the remaining storeys, with the four corners curving up slightly. Overall it faithfully follows the stone pagoda style handed down from the Silla period, but its nine storeys make it very tall, and it lacks a sense of stability as a result. Judging from the detailed carving style of each part and the technique used for the ansang on the base, it is presumed to have been built in the early Goryeo period.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Cheongyang, Chungnam

Designation

Treasure · 보물