Sangwonsa Temple Epitaph Tablet Tap and Halo

Sangwonsa Temple stands on the slope of Chiaksan Mountain at an elevation of 1,100 metres, making it the highest-situated temple in Korea. It is said to have been founded during Silla by the Seon master Mucheok, and a legend tells how a pheasant once struck the temple bell to save a monk's life, repaying a debt of kindness. These two pagodas, standing side by side to the east and west in front of the Daeungjeon Hall, each have a three-storey body raised on a two-tier foundation, and are similar to one another in size and form. Pillar shapes are carved at the four corners and the centre of each side on both the upper and lower foundation tiers. The first-storey body stone is comparatively large, but from the second storey up the height decreases considerably. The roof stones each carry a single course of eaves-support on the underside, and the four corners curve up slightly. At the top sits a distinctive finial shaped like a round lotus bud. Overall the pagodas follow the typical Unified Silla stone pagoda style, and the simplified eaves-support suggests they were made in the late Unified Silla period. In front of the eastern pagoda stand a halo and a pedestal that appear to belong to a stone Buddha. The halo is decorated with lotus and vine patterns within a flame-pattern border, showing refined carving technique. The pedestal is octagonal, with part of one side slightly broken. As the Buddha image itself does not survive, its original form is unknown, but from the carving style of the halo and pedestal it is thought to have been made sometime between the late Unified Silla and early Goryeo periods.

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Where it is

Region

Wonju, Gangwon

Designation

Provincial Tangible Heritage · 시도유형문화유산