Stupa and Stele of Buddhist Monk Samyeong at Hongjeam Hermitage of Haeinsa Temple, Hapcheon

This is the stupa and stele of Master Samyeong at Hongjeam Hermitage of Haeinsa Temple. Master Samyeong was a monk who rendered great service as a leader of monk soldiers during the Japanese invasions of 1592 and 1597, and Hongjeam Hermitage is the place where he practised and passed away. The name Hongjeam derives from the posthumous title "Jatong Hongje Jonja" bestowed by King Gwanghaegun after his death. Standing on a hillside about 20 m northeast of Hongjeam Hermitage, the Stupa of Master Samyeong is a massive bell-shaped stupa representative of the late Joseon period, displaying a dignified form and fine sculptural quality. The base consists of two tiers carved from a single stone, the lower tier square and the upper tier round, with a bell-shaped body stone set on top. A boju, a finial in the shape of a lotus bud, crowns the top of the stupa. The Seokjang Stele of Master Samyeong records his life story; it was erected in 1612, the fourth year of King Gwanghaegun, with the inscription composed by Heo Gyun, author of The Tale of Hong Gil-dong. During the Japanese colonial period, in 1943, the Japanese chief of Hapcheon Police Station, fearing that the content of the inscription might stir national spirit, broke the stele into four pieces; it was rejoined and re-erected in 1958. This Seokjang Stele is the earliest of the surviving steles for Master Samyeong, and besides its outstanding literary quality, it records his life and achievements in relatively great detail, giving it high historical value. The stupa and Seokjang Stele of Master Samyeong originally formed a matching pair, and this format is of academic significance in that it carries on a tradition dating back to the Silla period.

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Where it is

Region

Hapcheon, Gyeongnam

Designation

Treasure · 보물