Stele of State Preceptor Wonjin at Bogyeongsa Temple, Pohang

This is the memorial stele for State Preceptor Wonjin, a monk of the mid-Goryeo period, standing at Bogyeongsa Temple. State Preceptor Wonjin (1171–1221) became a monk at the age of thirteen and travelled among famous mountains to practise, before being summoned by the king to become abbot of Bogyeongsa Temple. When he passed away at the age of fifty-one, Emperor Gojong honoured him as a State Preceptor and bestowed on him the posthumous name 'Wonjin'. The stele has a simple form, its body raised on a turtle-shaped base. Both ends of the upper part of the stele body are cut as if folded, a style fashionable at the time. The turtle base, carved from a single stone together with its broad base slab, has the head of a dragon holding a magic jewel in its mouth. On its back, the character 王 is neatly carved within each hexagonal scale, and at the centre of the back a square pedestal bordered with carved lotus flowers holds the stele body in place. The body of the stele is decorated around its edge with a scrolling vine pattern, another feature characteristic of the mid-Goryeo period. The inscription records the life and achievements of State Preceptor Wonjin; the text was composed by the civil official Yi Gong-no, and the calligraphy was written by Kim Hyo-in. According to the inscription, the stele was completed in the 11th year of Emperor Gojong (1224), three years after Wonjin's death.

AI Translation

Visiting

Opening hours

06:00-18:00

Closed

N/A (Open all year round)

Parking

Available

Information

+82-54-262-1117

Visitor information: Korea Tourism Organization · KOGL Type 1

Where it is

Region

Pohang, Gyeongbuk

Designation

Treasure · 보물