Cylindrical Multi-story Stone Pagoda of Unjusa Temple, Hwasun

There is a legend that State Preceptor Doseon, a monk of the late Unified Silla period, viewing the shape of Korea as a boat, worried that the Honam region, corresponding to the middle of the boat, had fewer mountains than Yeongnam and so would cause the boat to tilt to one side; to prevent this he is said to have used his spiritual powers to create 1,000 Buddha statues and 1,000 pagodas in the space of a single day and night. Eighteen pagodas and seventy Buddha statues survive at the temple today, and this pagoda, standing in front of the Stone Buddha Shrine of Unjusa Temple, Hwasun (a treasure), is one of them. Unusual in its composition and overall form, it does not follow the typical shape of a stone pagoda and well displays the characteristics of Goryeo-period stone pagodas. The foundation consists of two tiers of round base stones topped by a tall ten-sided stone structure, finished above with a stone carved with sixteen lotus petals. The pagoda body has a circular main body and roof stones at every level, with two incised lines running around the side of the main body at each storey. Only six storeys survive today, but it appears there were originally more. Rare in Korea for its composition and overall form, it represents a distinctive style that emerged in various regions during the Goryeo period. Whereas the top stone of the foundation is flat on top and round at the sides, the roof stones of the pagoda body are the opposite, flat below and round above. This is thought to have been intended to achieve harmony and stability between the upper and lower parts.

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Visiting

Opening hours

Open 24 hr

Closed

N/A (Open all year round)

Parking

Available

Information

• 1330 Travel Hotline: +82-2-1330<br> (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)<br> • For more info: +82-61-374-0660

Visitor information: Korea Tourism Organization · KOGL Type 1

Where it is

Region

Hwasun, Jeonnam & Gwangju

Designation

Treasure · 보물