Dongbangsa Temple Site Seven-story Stone Pagoda

This seven-storey stone pagoda remains at the site of Dongbangsa Temple; it is said to have originally had nine storeys. The temple site lies beside the national road running from Seongju town centre towards Waegwan, about 1 km away. The temple was founded during the reign of King Aejang of Silla, but was entirely destroyed by fire during the Japanese invasions of Korea (1592-1598), leaving only this stone pagoda standing today. Pillar-shaped carvings appear on the four sides of the base and on each body stone of the pagoda, and a door shape is deeply carved into the first-storey body stone in particular. A distinctive feature is the lotus-flower pattern carved at the four corners of the roof stones of the first, second and third storeys, reflecting the free-flowing carving style of the Goryeo period. The terrain of the Seongju area where the pagoda stands is said to resemble a cow lying down and gazing at the stars; because of this the streams are seen to curve around Seongju town and flow out to the east, and it is said that this pagoda was erected to stop the vital energy of Seongju's land from draining away together with the streams. Because it carries the meaning of protecting the energy of Seongju's land, it is also known as the Jigitap, or Earth-energy Pagoda.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Seongju, Gyeongbuk

Designation

Provincial Tangible Heritage · 시도유형문화유산