Stone Pagoda of Dorisa Temple, Gumi

Dorisa Temple is associated with the monk Ado, who according to legend was involved in the first transmission of Buddhism to Silla. On his way back from Seorabeol after propagating Buddhism, Ado is said to have found peach and plum blossoms in full bloom in the depths of winter, and to have built a temple there, naming it Dorisa, meaning Peach and Plum Temple. It is not known exactly when it was founded, but it is said to be the first Buddhist temple in Silla. This stone pagoda stands in the front courtyard of Daeungjeon Hall. It rises in five tiers overall; the lowest tier is thought to serve as the base supporting the pagoda, while the two tiers above form the body of the pagoda, its central part. The body stones of the first and second storeys are each built up of two or three courses of small square stones, giving the appearance of stacked brickwork, and the roof stones likewise form stepped tiers in imitation of a brick pagoda. Notably, each face bears a slab carved in relief with a door frame set into it, apparently representing a door. It is unclear whether the top two tiers represent a doubled finial base at the summit, or whether only the uppermost tier is the finial base with the tier below belonging to the body of the pagoda. With its unusual form, differing from typical pagodas, the stepped composition of the body stones and the upper roof stones resembles a mojeon stone pagoda, one imitating brick construction. Such a rare form has scarcely any parallel, and the pagoda is thought to have been built during the Goryeo period.

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Where it is

Region

Gumi, Gyeongbuk

Designation

Treasure · 보물