Bowl Salli Hexagonal Stupa

This stupa is said to have been brought from an unidentified temple site by Shimatani Yasoya, a Japanese national who established a farm in Gunsan in 1903; it now stands together with the Balsan-ri Five-story Stone Pagoda (a treasure) and a stone lantern. Above the hexagonal base stone are two tiers of lower pedestal stones: the lower tier is carved with arch-shaped niche motifs, and the upper tier has a high central support carved together with a band of downward-pointing lotus petals. The hexagonal middle stone is carved in relief with corner pillars, and above the upper pedestal stone, carved with upward-pointing lotus petals, is a low support for the body stone. The hexagonal body stone has relief-carved door panels at two points, and although faint and not entirely certain, the four sides appear to bear carved images of the Four Heavenly Kings. Beneath the roof stone are three tiers of roof-stone supports together with carved rafter ends and sub-rafters, and the upper surface is carved with clearly defined lines representing roof tiles. There were corner finial ornaments (gwikkot, flame-shaped decorations) at five corners, but all have been lost, and the finial on top has also been lost. The overall height is about 175 cm. This stupa is outstanding in its overall composition and carving technique, and is unusual for its hexagonal form. Although nothing is known of its original location or the person it commemorates, it is an extremely rare example in that, while following the general style of a pagoda-shaped stupa, its ground plan is hexagonal. In particular, the appearance of hexagonal forms in Korean Buddhist sculpture is attributed to the influence of Song-dynasty China from the Goryeo period onward, which allows its date to be roughly estimated. It can also be understood as belonging to the same lineage as the Hexagonal Multi-story Stone Pagoda of Geumsansa Temple (a treasure), which likewise has a hexagonal ground plan and is located in Gimje, North Jeolla Province. Beyond the rarity and distinctiveness of its plan, it also possesses relatively refined carving technique and artistic value.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Gunsan, Jeonbuk

Designation

Cultural Heritage Material · 문화유산자료