Three-story Stone Pagoda in Yongjangsagok Valley of Namsan Mountain, Gyeongju

Yongjangsa Temple is well known as the place where Kim Si-seup, pen name Maewoldang, stayed while writing Geumosinhwa (New Tales of Mount Geumo); its history beyond this is uncertain, and only a few stone foundations remain today to suggest that a temple once stood here. Standing on a high peak of the rocky ridge that stretches eastward around the old temple site, this is a three-story stone pagoda built on a two-tiered base. A natural rock outcrop serves as the lower tier of the base, with the upper tier placed directly on top of it; in other words, the natural rock may be regarded as the lower base, or the entire rocky mountain beneath it may equally be regarded as the lower base. The upper tier of the base has pillar-shaped carvings at the four corners and in the centre, and is capped with two flat stone slabs. The pagoda's body is made up of separate stones for the roof stones and body stones. The first-story body stone is quite tall, while from the second story upward the size decreases sharply. Each roof stone has four-tiered supports on its underside, and the eaves run in a straight line before lifting gracefully at the corners. The finial at the top has been lost, so its original form is unknown, and only the hole where an iron rod was once inserted remains. The pagoda, which had fallen over, was re-erected in 1922; the reliquary is said to have been missing for a long time already by then. With its harmonious proportions and the spectacular setting it forms with the surrounding natural landscape, it is a representative work of the late Unified Silla period.

AI Translation

Visiting

Opening hours

06:00-18:00

Closed

N/A (Open all year round)

Admission

Free

Parking

Available

Information

+82-54-777-1330

Visitor information: Korea Tourism Organization · KOGL Type 1

Where it is

Region

Gyeongju, Gyeongbuk

Designation

Treasure · 보물