Anyang Sagwibu

This is a turtle-shaped stele pedestal (gwibu) now standing in front of Daeungjeon Hall at Anyangsa Temple. The stele body (biseon), the section bearing the inscription, and the capstone (isu), carved in the form of a dragon, are both missing; only the gwibu, the turtle-shaped base, remains. The gwibu of Anyangsa Temple has a fully formed dragon's head and the body of a turtle lying flat on the ground. Unlike the gwibu of Unified Silla, which stretch the neck out or face straight ahead, this one has its head raised, so that the front of the neck appears long while the back of the neck lies flush against the shell and is barely visible. A long beard hangs from the front of the head. The forefeet have three claws and the hind feet two, reflecting a change characteristic of the period. The shell bears a hexagonal tortoise-shell pattern (gwigammun) carved in double lines, and a rectangular pedestal for the stele is set at the centre of the back. Cloud patterns are carved on both sides of this pedestal, and a double lotus-petal design on its upper surface. Since the stele body is lost, the exact date of its making cannot be known, but on the basis of the overall carving technique — the realistic detail and the stylisation of the patterns — it is presumed to be a work of the Goryeo period.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Anyang, Gyeonggi

Designation

Provincial Tangible Heritage · 시도유형문화유산