Stupa of Gongnimsa Temple, Goesan

These are two stupas (seungtap, memorial monuments for Buddhist monks) standing in a separate area at the rear of Gongnimsa Temple, one to the east and one to the west. Their original locations are not known, but they survive in relatively complete form. According to tradition, Gongnimsa Temple takes its name from an episode in the reign of King Gyeongmun, the 48th king of Silla: when the king learned of the character of the monk Jajeong Seonsa, who had been practising at a hermitage, he granted him the honorific title of State Preceptor and bestowed on the temple where he resided a plaque reading "Gongnimsa (空林寺)". In the first year of King Jeong Jong of Joseon, the monk Hamheodang Deuktong restored the temple after it had fallen into ruin and resided there; it was rebuilt again later under King Injo. Geungnakjeon Hall and the monks' quarters were rebuilt in 1965, and the monk Tanseong carried out further reconstruction over thirteen years from 1981. Both stupas are of the octagonal, round-hall (palgak-wondang) type and are similar in size and shape. The western stupa has a damaged base and has lost part of its roofstone, but is otherwise relatively well preserved in its original form. The eastern stupa rises from a square ground stone, on which rest an octagonal lower base stone and a middle support stone, then a middle-base stone and an upper base stone; above these sits a round body stone, topped by a roofstone with a steeply sloping eave line, which in turn carries a finial jewel. The two stupas at Gongnimsa Temple are, on the whole, in good condition, and - apart from the round body stone - they display well the typical features of the octagonal, round-hall type of stupa, making them valuable material for study.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Goesan, Chungbuk

Designation

Cultural Heritage Material · 문화유산자료