Stupa of Master Bojo at Borimsa Temple, Jangheung

This is a stupa erected at Borimsa Temple, enshrining the relics of Master Bojo. Master Bojo (804–880) left home to become a monk at a young age and studied the Buddhist scriptures; in 827, the second year of King Heungdeok, he received the precepts that a monk must observe. In 837, the second year of King Huigang, he travelled to China, but returned in 840, the second year of King Munseong, and taught Seon, meditative Buddhism, to many monks. In 859, the third year of King Heonan, he became abbot of Borimsa Temple at the king's request, and passed away at the age of 77. The king bestowed on him the posthumous title "Master Bojo" and named his stupa "Changseong". The stupa is octagonal from its base stone to its roof stone, the typical form for a Unified Silla stupa. The lower base stone of the platform supporting the body of the stupa is carved with highly three-dimensional cloud patterns, and the middle base stone has a slightly bulging profile bound by bands above and below. The body stone of the stupa, set upon eight large lotus carvings, has door-shaped panels carved on its front and back faces, and images of the Four Heavenly Kings carved on its two sides. The thick-looking roof stone has rafters represented on its underside, and its upper surface is deeply carved with roof-tile grooves. Although not complete, the finial at the top preserves, in order, a bokbal, an ornament shaped like an overturned bowl, a boryun, a wheel-shaped ornament, and a boju, an ornament shaped like a lotus bud. The body stone appears disproportionately large compared with the roof stone, and the texture of the roof stone differs from the rest, giving the whole an unnatural appearance. During the Japanese colonial period the reliquary was stolen and the stupa collapsed; it has since been restored, but part of it was damaged in the process, which is regrettable.

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Where it is

Region

Jangheung, Jeonnam & Gwangju

Designation

Treasure · 보물