Stone Basin at Bowonsa Temple Site, Seosan

This is a stone basin located at the site of Bowonsa Temple, Seosan. Bowonsa was also known as Goransa, and nothing at all is known of its history, but the site drew great attention in 1959 when the Rock-carved Buddha Triad in Yonghyeon-ri, Seosan (National Treasure) was discovered nearby. A seokjo is a stone vessel monks used to hold water, made in round, octagonal, rectangular and other shapes. This example is rectangular, hollowed from a single block of granite, and shows the general form typical of the Unified Silla period. It is of massive scale, and its plain, unadorned surface gives it a dignified, weighty appearance. There are no traces of carving on any of the interior faces either; the floor is flat, and there is only a circular drainage hole about 8cm across on one side. Only the inside and the top were finished with precision, while the outside still bears rough tool marks, so it is not known whether it was originally set into the ground for use. The carving is simple and unadorned, yet the basin is large enough to hold about 4 tonnes of water, giving an impression of grandeur that allows us to gauge the scale of the temple at the time.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Seosan, Chungnam

Designation

Treasure · 보물