Chugongnibaegyeonam Hermitage Stupa

Baengnyeonam Hermitage in Gwangju lies at the foot of Taehwasan Mountain, and no detailed history of it survives. However, roof-tile fragments and white porcelain sherds excavated within the temple grounds suggest that the temple's history is a long one. The stupa at Baengnyeonam now stands on a narrow plot of land on the east side of the temple grounds, though it is unclear whether this is its original location. The stupa consists of a bell-shaped stone body set upon a square pedestal stone. The sides of the pedestal are carved with a beaded border dividing them into square panels, within which graceful flower designs are depicted, and oval blind-panel motifs also appear as decoration. On the top of the pedestal is carved, in a circular form, a lotus-petal design made up of sixteen petals; the carving is so graceful yet precisely ordered that it suggests the work of a highly skilled craftsman. The bell-shaped stone body is wide at the bottom and narrows as it rises. At its top, a circular base decorated with a beaded border is fitted, topped with a lotus-bud-shaped jewel finial representing a blooming lotus. The identity of the monk commemorated by this stupa is not specifically known, but he is presumed to have been an eminent monk closely associated with Baengnyeonam Hermitage in the late Joseon period. It is a typical bell-shaped stupa of the style popular in the late Joseon period, with a neatly ordered appearance, and the refined detail of its carving, including the lotus designs, makes it a valuable example of the type.

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Where it is

Region

Gwangju, Gyeonggi

Designation

Cultural Heritage Material · 문화유산자료