Flagpole Supports of Geumsansa Temple, Gimje

When a temple held a ceremony, a banner called a dang was hung at its entrance. The pole from which this banner hung was called a danggan, and the two stone posts that supported the pole on either side are called danggan-jiju, or flagpole supports. These flagpole supports stand within the grounds of Geumsansa Temple, facing each other from north to south, and rise to a height of 3.5 metres. The foundation of the posts consists of a single tier: the base is formed of six well-dressed, elongated stones, finished on top with two joined stone slabs. Above the foundation, a round support for holding the flagpole is carved between the two posts, with only a simple moulding carved around it and no further decoration. The inner faces of both posts are left completely plain, while along the edges of the outer faces a vertical band is carved in relief. The tops of the posts are rounded off along the line descending from the inner to the outer face. Holes for fixing the flagpole in place were bored at three points on each post — top, middle and bottom. This arrangement of three holes is a stylistic feature typical of the Unified Silla period, also seen in the flagpole supports at the Bomunsa Temple site in Gyeongju (treasure) and at Mireuksa Temple Site in Iksan (treasure). This work retains its foundation and flagpole support fully intact, and the carving on the faces of the posts is finely executed. It has the most complete form among Korea's flagpole supports, and is thought to have been erected in the latter half of the eighth century, the golden age of the Unified Silla period.

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Where it is

Region

Gimje, Jeonbuk

Designation

Treasure · 보물