Three-story Stone Pagoda at Myoeomsa Temple Site, Jinju

This is a stone pagoda from the Goryeo period remaining at the site of an old temple. It is a three-story stone pagoda erected on a two-tiered platform base; the lower tier of the base is currently buried underground, so its structure cannot be clearly determined. On the upper tier of the base, wide pillar shapes are carved at the corners and centre of each side. Above this sits the topmost stone of the base, its centre cut with a two-tiered block to support the pagoda body. The pagoda body has its body stone and roof stone made of a single block for each storey. The first-storey body stone is excessively tall, and from the second storey up the size decreases sharply, so that the pagoda loses its sense of balance and stability. As on the base, wide corner pillars are carved on the body stones, and on the west face of the first storey a pair of door shapes with lattice windows and a ring are lightly carved. The roof stones are rather thick relative to their width; the support tiers on the underside number four each for the first and second storeys but only three for the third, making the roof look even thicker and its slope steeper. The eaves lines are horizontal along their length but curve up slightly at the four corners. Only the base stone that once supported the finial ornament, known as the noban, remains at the top of the pagoda. Although part of the base is buried and damaged, the pagoda is relatively well preserved overall, and it shows a clear tendency to depart from the typical style of Silla stone pagodas. Having lost its balance between upper and lower parts, it gives a somewhat coarse impression, and the composition and workmanship of each part have also become blunter. It is thought to date from the mid-Goryeo period or later, and as a stone pagoda of this period it well reflects the character of its time.

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Where it is

Region

Jinju, Gyeongnam

Designation

Treasure · 보물