Stone Lantern of Silsangsa Temple, Namwon

Silsangsa Temple lies in a basin to the west of Cheonwangbong Peak on Jirisan Mountain. It was founded in 828, the third year of King Heungdeok's reign, during the Unified Silla period, when the monk Hongcheok established Silsangsanmun, one of the Nine Mountain Schools of Seon Buddhism. This stone lantern stands in the front courtyard of Bogwangmyeongjeon Hall at Silsangsa Temple. The lantern is centred on a firebox stone (hwasaseok) that holds the light, with a three-tiered base beneath it and a roof stone and finial above; the whole is basically octagonal in plan. On the lower and upper stones of the base, eight petals are carved symmetrically. Windows are pierced through all eight faces of the firebox stone, and the holes around each window suggest that they were bored for fitting window panels. All eight corners of the roof stone curve upward, each topped with a projecting flower-shaped carving. The finial is carved with an elaborate pattern, showing the outstanding decorative style of the late Unified Silla period. Because of its large size, a stone ladder was built in front of the lantern for use when lighting it. Judging from the somewhat formulaic flower carvings at the corners of the roof stone and the lotus pattern on the base stones, the lantern is thought to have been made in the mid-ninth century, in the late Unified Silla period.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Namwon, Jeonbuk

Designation

Treasure · 보물