Three-story Stone Pagoda in Wonpyeong-ri, Chungju

This is said to be the site of a well-known temple called Seonjosa, founded in the early sixth century during the reign of King Beopheung of Silla; oral tradition holds that it burned down during the Manchu invasion of 1636. The village here is called Mireukdaengi, suggesting that the area has long been associated with Buddhism. This stone pagoda is a fine work of the Goryeo period that follows the style of Silla stone pagodas, as seen in the crisp, light corners of the roof stones' eaves and the elegant proportions of the pagoda body. The combination of an incense burner carved in relief on the base stone and a carved motif on the body stone believed to represent a lion is a rare style found nowhere else. The base was built on a square natural stone, with corner pillars carved on its north and south surface stones, together with a three-legged incense burner. On the first-storey body stone, a large animal figure believed to be a lion is carved on each of the four sides, and at the centre of the stone a lion standing on its hind legs is carved in relief. At the centre of the north and south faces of the base, a three-legged incense burner 60cm in height is carved in relief. The roof stones have three-tiered eave supports and elegantly shaped eaves; only the base stone of the finial remains, and the third-storey roof stone is now missing. The pagoda also has a support block beneath the body stone, and the bold, open treatment of the roof stones' eaves follows Silla stone pagoda style. The incense burner and animal figures carved on the base and body stones are rare examples, and this pagoda is regarded as a fine Goryeo-period work that closely follows Silla stone pagoda style, making it valuable material for research into changes in Goryeo-period pagoda style.

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Where it is

Region

Chungju, Chungbuk

Designation

Provincial Tangible Heritage · 시도유형문화유산