Three-story Stone Pagoda in Chupyeong-ri, Chungju

It stands in the village of Tappyeong, Chupyeong-ri, and pillar-base stones and numerous roof-tile fragments have been found across the surrounding farmland and neighbouring houses. Many roof tiles have also been found further up the ridge behind the site, at what is presumed to be the location of a hermitage belonging to the Chupyeong-ri temple site. The temple's name is not known, but a considerable quantity of porcelain and Goryeo-period roof-tile fragments have been unearthed, suggesting that the pagoda was built around the 11th century, in the first half of the Goryeo period. This temple site is very likely to be the "Eomjeongsa Temple" recorded in the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty, though this cannot presently be confirmed. The temple site is estimated to cover an area of about 3,000 pyeong, including the area around the three-storey stone pagoda and the neighbouring houses. It is a standard-type stone pagoda with a three-storey body set on a single-tier base; the first-storey body sits securely on a capstone assembled from two pieces, and corner pillars are neatly carved in relief on both sides of the body. The roof slopes steeply, the eaves curve upward at the corners, and the body-support block beneath each storey is omitted. Clear traces of holes for hanging wind chimes remain at both ends of the roof stones, and the roof-support tiers number four on each storey. On the finial, a component thought to be an overturned-bowl-shaped ornament survives. The pagoda is presumed originally to have had five storeys on a single-tier base, but only three storeys survive today. Around the pagoda, in addition to earthenware fragments, large quantities of artefacts have been found, including round eave-end roof tiles and white porcelain bowls. The Three-story Stone Pagoda in Chupyeong-ri, Chungju is a relatively well-preserved, standard-type stone pagoda built during the Goryeo period; the porcelain and roof-tile fragments collected in the surrounding area suggest it belonged to a temple that flourished under Goryeo, and its corner-pillar carving and upward-curving eaves show it continuing Silla-period style while displaying the somewhat altered forms of an early Goryeo pagoda, making it a stone pagoda of high value for the study of that stylistic transition.

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Where it is

Region

Chungju, Chungbuk

Designation

Provincial Tangible Heritage · 시도유형문화유산