Gakwasagwibu

This is a stele pedestal at Gakwasa Temple, said to be part of the Tongjin Daesabi, the memorial stele for State Preceptor Tongjin, which was erected by Kim Sim-eon, a civil official of the early Goryeo period who held the post of jwaganuidaebu. It is carved from a single stone together with its base stone, and the stele socket set at the centre of the tortoise's back — the rectangular groove into which the stele body is inserted — is slightly damaged but otherwise retains almost its original form. The carapace is covered all over with a hexagonal pattern, and within each cell the characters 王 and 佛 are carved in relief. On the whole it inherits the refined and grand carving style of the early Goryeo period, though the head appears somewhat small in relation to the body. It is a valuable work of the early Goryeo period; a new stele body and capstone were later made and erected on top of it.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Bonghwa, Gyeongbuk

Designation

Provincial Tangible Heritage · 시도유형문화유산