Birosa Temple Jingongdaesabobeop Stupa Stele

This is the stupa stele of Great Master Jingong, standing within Birosa Temple. Great Master Jingong was a monk active in the late Unified Silla and early Goryeo periods; he was from Gyeongju and his family name was Kim. He became a disciple of Seonyung on Gayasan Mountain, built a temple on Sobaeksan Mountain and served as its abbot, before passing away in the 20th year of King Taejo of Goryeo (937). King Taejo granted him the posthumous title 'Great Master Jingong' and named his stupa 'Bobeop'. The stele consists of a stone body set upon a tortoise-shaped base and capped with a mountain-shaped capstone; the body has cracked and part of it is damaged. The carving on the tortoise base is shallow and appears somewhat crude, and a square groove is cut into the centre of its back to hold the stele. The capstone is carved with clouds and dragons, which, though ornate, are not deeply cut. The stele was erected in the 22nd year of King Taejo of Goryeo (939); the text was composed by Choe Eon-wi and the calligraphy written by Yi Hwanchu.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Yeongju, Gyeongbuk

Designation

Provincial Tangible Heritage · 시도유형문화유산