Three-story Stone Pagoda at Bocheonsa Temple Site, Uiryeong

This pagoda was erected at Bocheonsa Temple Site during the early Goryeo period. Bocheonsa was founded during the reign of King Gyeongdeok of Unified Silla, but no history survives from after its founding. According to tradition, the temple became so infested with bedbugs that it was unbearable to live there, so the monks left for other temples and the temple was abandoned soon after; it appears to have already fallen into ruin before the mid-Joseon period. At the temple site today, in addition to this pagoda, the Stupa at Bocheonsa Temple Site, Uiryeong, also survives. The pagoda has a three-story body set on a two-tiered platform (gidan); although it is a Goryeo pagoda, it follows the general style of Silla. Beneath the base stone, a large supporting stone (goeimdol) is placed at each of the four corners. On each side of the lower tier of the platform, a pillar shape is carved at both corners and in the centre. The uppermost stone above it has an unusual composition: two long, flat stones are set to left and right, with two small slabs wedged between them, apparently, like the supporting stones below, a device to hold the stones firmly in place and keep the pagoda from collapsing. On the upper tier of the platform, pillar shapes are carved only at the two corners of each side, the centre being omitted. Each story of the body is formed from a single body stone and a single roof stone, the sizes gently diminishing story by story. The body stones have clearly carved pillar shapes only at their corners, and the roof stones have five-tiered underside supports. The slope of the roof stones forms a beautiful curve, the eave line running almost horizontal before curving gradually upward at the four corners. Only the square noban, the plate that once supported the finial, now remains at the top of the pagoda; until not long ago a suyeon, a flame-shaped ornament, sat above the noban, but it has since disappeared. Overall the pagoda shows harmonious proportions, and is an outstanding work notable for the unique composition of its platform. In 1967 its sarira relics were stolen, causing the pagoda to topple and suffer considerable damage, but it was soon repaired. At that time traces of the original sarira chamber were revealed, and inside it were found a bronze Buddha statue, a copper piece shaped like a halo (gwangbae), and a small clay pagoda.

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Where it is

Region

Uiryeong, Gyeongnam

Designation

Treasure · 보물