Three-story Stone Pagoda of Yeongguksa Temple, Yeongdong

Yeongguksa Temple is presumed to have been founded in the late Unified Silla period, and to have undergone reconstruction in the 12th century, during the reign of King Myeongjong of Goryeo, under State Preceptor Wongak. During the reign of King Gojong of Goryeo, An Jong-pil, acting on royal order, newly built a pagoda, a stupa and a main hall, and renamed the temple Gukcheongsa. It was later renamed Yeongguksa by King Gongmin. This pagoda stands in front of the Daeungjeon Hall of Yeongguksa Temple; it has a complete form, with a three-storey pagoda body raised on a two-tier base and topped with a finial. Patterns are carved on all four faces of the upper and lower base tiers; in particular, the pattern on the upper base tier is so large and wide that it extends right up to the corners. The uppermost stone of the base is notable for a slight upward curve at each of its four corners. On the pagoda body, pillar shapes are carved at the corners of each body stone, and on the front of the first-storey body stone a door-shaped design is carved, complete with a lock and door ring. The roof stones have a gentle slope on their upper surface, with the four corners sharply upturned, and the supports on the underside of each roof stone number four tiers. Because the base and pagoda body of this pagoda are simple, it is presumed to be a work of the late Unified Silla period, when the scale of art and architecture became smaller and styles were simplified.

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Where it is

Region

Yeongdong, Chungbuk

Designation

Treasure · 보물