Five-story Stone Pagoda from Hongje-dong, Seoul

This pagoda originally stood on the old site of Sahyeonsa Temple, and was moved to Gyeongbokgung Palace in 1970 as the surrounding city expanded. It has since been relocated to the National Museum of Korea. Natural stones now support the five-story body of the pagoda in place of a foundation platform, which appears to be a later repair. Each story consists of a single body stone and a single roof stone. The first-story body stone is undecorated, while from the second story upward, pillar shapes are carved to divide each side into two, with a square frame resembling a door panel marked within. The body stones of each story are narrower at the top and wider at the bottom overall, suggesting an intention to imitate wooden architecture. The roof stones are broad and thin yet appear massive, and the seemingly thick eaves extend horizontally before curving up at both ends, becoming even thicker. Although the loss of the foundation platform now makes the pagoda appear unstable, it as a whole combines solemn weight with a sense of lightness and stability. As for its date of construction, the inscription on the Stele for State Preceptor Hyeso at Chiljangsa Temple, Anseong (Treasure) reveals that this temple was founded in 1045, the eleventh year of King Jeongjong of Goryeo, so the pagoda is presumed to have been built at the time the temple was founded.

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Where it is

Region

Yongsan-gu, Seoul

Designation

Treasure · 보물