West Five-story Stone Pagoda of Hwaeomsa Temple, Gurye

This pagoda stands on the west side of a pair of pagodas set east and west in front of the Daeungjeon Hall of Hwaeomsa Temple; while the east pagoda bears no carving at all, the west pagoda is covered in carving and decoration. It takes the form of a five-story body set on a two-tier base. On each face of the lower base, images of the twelve zodiac guardian deities are set within blind-baluster niches (ansang) according to direction; the upper base is carved at the corners and centre of each face with pillar shapes, and the eight legions of guardian deities (palbu sinjung) are carved on two of its divided faces. The body stone and roof stone of each story are each a single piece, and pillar shapes are likewise carved at the corners of the body stone on every story. The four faces of the first-story body stone are carved with images of the Four Heavenly Kings. The roof stones each carry five-tiered supports on their underside at every story, with the eaves kept horizontal. For its finial, a jewel-shaped ornament (bochu, in the form of a lotus bud) rests atop a two-tiered pedestal. The pagoda's form is tall and steep, yet the proportional tapering from bottom to top and the light, buoyant handling of the roof stones are well harmonised, giving it an elegant dignity. The carving of the twelve zodiac deities on the lower base is in particular one of the rare examples of such decoration on a stone pagoda. The figures placed in the three locations — the upper and lower bases and the first-story body stone — were arranged with particular care, and since the twelve zodiac deities, the eight legions, and the Four Heavenly Kings are all guardian figures in Buddhism, a strong intent to protect the sarira enshrined within the pagoda is evident. The carving on every part, together with the more fluid treatment of the roof forms, suggests the pagoda was made around the ninth century, in the late Unified Silla period. To the south of the pagoda stands a worship stone (baeryeseok) carved with blind-baluster niches and lotus flowers.

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Where it is

Region

Gurye, Jeonnam & Gwangju

Designation

Treasure · 보물