Stele of Buddhist Monk Nanggong from Taejasa Temple, Bonghwa

The Stele of Buddhist Monk Nanggong from Taejasa Temple, Bonghwa is a memorial stele for the eminent monk Master Nanggong, Haengjeok (832, the seventh year of King Heungdeok, to 916, the fifth year of King Sindeok), who lived at the end of Silla and the beginning of Goryeo. The inscription was composed by Choe In-yeon, regarded as a leading writer of his day, and by Seok Sun-baek, a dharma-descendant of the master's own lineage. The disciple-monk Danmok assembled the characters from the running-script calligraphy of the celebrated calligrapher Kim Saeng, and the monks Sungtae, Sugyu, Cheongjik and Hyecho carved them; the stele was erected in 954, the fifth year of King Gwangjong. The stele describes in detail the life of Master Nanggong, Haengjeok, an eminent monk of the late Silla–early Goryeo period, and, concerning its erection, records specific facts — who composed the inscription, who assembled its characters, and who else took part in its construction — that allow the society and culture of the time to be examined; it is thus an outstanding historical source. It is also highly important as one of the most fundamental materials for the study of Kim Saeng's calligraphy.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Yongsan-gu, Seoul

Designation

Treasure · 보물