Stele of Master Wonrang from Wolgwangsa Temple Site, Jecheon

This stele originally stood at the site of Wolgwangsa Temple in Donchang-ri, Hansu-myeon, Jecheon-gun, North Chungcheong Province. It was moved to Gyeongbokgung Palace in 1922 and is now located within the grounds of the National Museum of Korea. The stele records the life and achievements of Master Wonrang (816–883), a monk of the late Unified Silla period. In the eighteenth year of King Munseong's reign (856), Master Wonrang travelled to Tang China to study, spent eleven years visiting its famous mountains, and on returning to Korea settled at Wolgwangsa Temple. When he passed away at the age of sixty-eight, King Heongang bestowed on him the posthumous stele title "Daebogwangseon" (Great Treasure of Radiant Meditation) and had Kim Yeong compose the text for the stele inscription. The calligraphy, in the standard script of the Ouyang Xun style, was written by Sunmong. The stele consists of a body set on a turtle-shaped base, with a capstone on top. The turtle base has notably small feet and holds its short neck and head stiffly upright, a stylised form characteristic of the late Unified Silla period, while the carving on the capstone is highly realistic. Overall, the stele shows excellent proportion between its head, body and base, giving an impression that is both refined and stable. It was erected in the fourth year of Queen Jinseong's reign (890), after Master Wonrang's death.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Yongsan-gu, Seoul

Designation

Treasure · 보물