Stupa and Reliquaries from Budoam Hermitage Site of Bonginsa Temple, Namyangju

This is a stupa built during the reign of King Gwanghaegun of Joseon, together with the various reliquaries found inside it. King Gwanghaegun had the stupa built at a hermitage called Budoam, part of Bonginsa Temple, praying for the long life of the crown prince and for the Buddha's protection. Although stupas usually enshrine the sari, or sacred relics, of monks, this stupa enshrines relics of the Buddha himself. These artefacts suffered hardship during the Japanese colonial period: they were taken to Japan in 1927 and were not returned to Korea until 1987, more than sixty years later. The stupa has an octagonal plan. The base, which bears the weight of the whole structure, is divided into upper, middle and lower sections, and above it sits a drum-shaped body stone in which the relics are enshrined. An octagonal roof stone was placed on top of this, finished with an elongated finial at the very top. Its overall appearance recalls the stupas at Cheongnyongsa Temple and Hoeamsa Temple, both built in the early Joseon period. This can be seen in the drum-shaped body stone, the dragon-head carvings at each of the eight corners of the roof's sloping eaves, and the balustrade stones surrounding the stupa. This shows that, although it was built in the mid-Joseon period, the stupa faithfully follows the style of the early Joseon period. On the upper surface of the body stone is a square cavity in which the reliquary set had been placed, and seven objects were found there. All are lidded vessels, comprising three brass bowls, three silver bowls and one crystal reliquary bottle. The silver bowls were placed inside the brass bowls, forming three matching pairs; the brass bowls contained silk thread, silk cloth and incense. The lids of the silver bowls are dynamically carved with gilt clouds and dragon designs, and a few lines of text are inscribed on the bottoms of the bowls; this inscription reveals that the objects were sealed in 1620, the twelfth year of King Gwanghaegun's reign. Both the stupa and the reliquary objects follow the style of the early Joseon period almost without change, yet they are interesting for showing new attempts in various details. Examples include the elongated finial on the stupa, and the use of as many as seven vessels, compared with the contemporary practice of using only two or three reliquary vessels. As a representative work of the mid-Joseon period with a clearly known date, it holds important significance as fundamental material for the study of Joseon-period artefacts.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Yongsan-gu, Seoul

Designation

Treasure · 보물