Geumgoksa Temple Jiwongwangbeopsa Temple Stupa Tap

A stupa symbolises a monk's grave, enshrining his remains or relics. Standing on the site of Geumgoksa Temple, this stupa enshrines the relics of Wongwangbeopsa, a monk of the Silla period active in the reign of King Jinpyeong. Wongwangbeopsa (?–630) formulated the Sesok Ogye, the Five Secular Commandments that served as the code of conduct for the Hwarang, and was also accomplished in literary composition, writing the Geolsapyo, a petition for military aid, and sending it to Sui China. He died at Hwangnyongsa Temple in the 52nd year of King Jinpyeong's reign (630), and after his funeral rites at Myeonghwalsan Mountain, a stupa enshrining his relics was erected here. Only part of the stupa had survived, in a broken state, before it was recently restored anew in the form of a three-storey stone pagoda. On a wide base stone sits a tall single-tier platform supporting a three-storey body, of which only the base stone, the body stone of the first storey, and the roof stone of the third storey are original. The first-storey body stone has door-shaped designs carved on each of its four sides, the interior of each slightly hollowed out to carve a Buddha image in relief. The roof stones carry four tiers of support carvings on their undersides, with a gently sloping upper surface. At the top, only the square support stone that once held the finial ornament remains. Erected before Silla's unification, this stupa, unusual in taking the form of an ordinary stone pagoda, is a distinctive example of its kind.

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Where it is

Region

Gyeongju, Gyeongbuk

Designation

Cultural Heritage Material · 문화유산자료