East and West Three-story Stone Pagodas of Unmunsa Temple, Cheongdo

Unmunsa Temple is where the Goryeo monk Ilyeon wrote the Samguk yusa, and the temple still preserves cultural heritage including this three-storey stone pagoda, a stone lantern in front of the main hall, stone statues of the Four Heavenly Kings, the stele for State Preceptor Woneung, and a stone seated Buddha. These two pagodas, standing to the east and west in front of Daeungbojeon Hall, each have a three-storey body set on a two-tier base and are identical in scale and style. Pillar shapes are carved on the base of each tier, and in particular the upper tier bears carvings of the Eight Legions, guardian deities of Buddhism, all shown seated. The body of the pagoda has its body stone and roof stone each carved from a single block, with pillar shapes carved at each corner of the body stone. The underside of the eaves of the roof stones is horizontal, with five-tiered supports beneath. At the top, the parts of the finial are stacked in sequence, and all are original. The centre pillar carved on the base, of which there were two on the lower tier, is reduced to one on the upper tier, and this, together with the carved decoration on the surface, suggests the pagodas were built in the ninth century. The base had been so badly damaged that it was close to collapse, and it was repaired during the Japanese colonial period, when some parts, including the Eight Legions, were replaced with new stone.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Cheongdo, Gyeongbuk

Designation

Treasure · 보물