Urijeol Stone Stupa 2gi

Urijeol Temple in Gwangju was rebuilt in the early 1990s. Two stone stupas (budo, memorial stupas enshrining the remains of eminent monks) are preserved here, one excavated on the site and the other moved here from elsewhere during the reconstruction. The first stupa is said to have been unearthed when Gwaneumjeon Hall was built. The lower and middle stones of its pedestal are octagonal, and the body stone is spherical. The roof stone (a stone placed over a stone pagoda or stone lantern like a roof) is shaped like a hipped roof with a square plan; the eaves surface is carved to represent roof-tile ridges, and the ridge is raised high, with a dragon's head carved in high relief at its end. The middle stone of the pedestal bears a vertical incised inscription reading "Nakhwadang Daesa Seungsin" (樂華堂大師勝信), from which it can be inferred that the subject's pen name was "Nakhwadang" and his Buddhist name was "Seungsin". Judging from the condition of each component and the construction technique, it appears that stone pieces from several different stupas were mixed together to form the stupa as it stands today. The second stupa is said to have been donated by a lay Buddhist devotee and moved here from the Yeoju area. A spherical body stone and a square roof stone are placed atop a simply made pedestal. Judging from the condition of each component, it too appears to be made of a mixture of stones from other stupas. The front of the body stone is now marked out in the shape of a spirit tablet, inscribed with the pen name "Songgyedang" (松溪堂), identifying its subject. As such, the stupas at Urijeol are made of a mixture of stones from several different stupas, and judging from their construction technique and style, they appear to have been built in the late Joseon period. The subjects are known as Nakhwadang and Songgyedang, but nothing is recorded of their activities during their lifetimes. Although the Urijeol stupas are made of mixed stupa stones, they are valuable material in that the identity of their subjects can be determined.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Gwangju, Gyeonggi

Designation

Cultural Heritage Material · 문화유산자료