Three-story Stone Pagoda of Dopiansa Temple, Cheorwon

This pagoda stands before the main hall of Dopiansa Temple, with a three-storey body set on a two-tiered base. The base has an unusual structure: instead of the usual square stones, it is built high in two tiers of octagonal stones. Blind niches, an arch-shaped decorative motif, are carved on the eight faces of the lower base. On the topmost stone of this base sits a tall octagonal pedestal stone carved with a lotus design, set to support the upper base. The upper base is very tall but plain on each face; however, a somewhat thick lotus design is carved encircling the underside of its topmost stone. Where the base meets the pagoda body, a tall three-tiered support was placed to bear the first-storey body stone; this treatment resembles the base technique used for Buddhist statues rather than that typical of stone pagodas, and the tall pedestal form on the upper surface of the covering stone is a distinctive technique seen in ninth-century Unified Silla stone pagodas. The pagoda body uses a single stone each for the body and roof stone of every storey. The body stones of each storey bear only pillar-shaped carving at the corners, with no other decoration. The undersides of the roof stones have four tiers of eaves-supports on the first storey and three tiers on the second and third storeys; although the shallow carving gives a somewhat heavy impression, the four corners curve strongly upward, giving the pagoda a beautiful appearance. The distinctive style of the base and the inconsistency in the number of roof-stone support tiers show the transitional character between Unified Silla and Goryeo. Based on an inscription on the Buddha statue enshrined in the main hall, the pagoda is presumed to have been made together with that statue when the temple was built in 865, the fifth year of King Gyeongmun of Unified Silla.

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Where it is

Region

Cheorwon, Gangwon

Designation

Treasure · 보물