Stupa of Cheonggangsa Temple, Hapcheon

A seungtap is a tower enshrining the relics (sari) of a Buddhist monk, also called a budo or sarital (relic stupa). Whose relics are enshrined in the Stupa of Cheonggangsa Temple, Hapcheon, has not been identified, but it has a distinctive structure that sets it apart from ordinary stupas. The base is relatively tall overall, consisting of an octagonal lower base stone placed in two tiers atop the ground stone at the bottom. The lower tier of the base stone is plain and undecorated, while the upper tier has each face divided by lines and intricately carved with floral patterns. The middle stone is drum-shaped (gobok-hyeong), resembling an upturned drum, with lotus-petal patterns carved above and below, and at its centre two dragons playing with a yeouiju (a wish-fulfilling jewel) are carved in high relief. The upper base stone is octagonal, with bat motifs carved on each face to add a meaning of auspiciousness. The tower body, the most distinctive feature of this stupa, is shaped like a round ball, its surface divided by thick lines, within which elaborate decorations such as chrysanthemum, lotus and magnolia patterns are carved. The roof stone is octagonal, with deeply carved roof-tile grooves, and the underside delicately depicts a double-eave structure. The finial consists of a canopy-shaped stone carved from a single block, topped by a bead-shaped jewel stone, giving a finish that is simple yet highly accomplished. In its overall form and artistic quality, this stupa calls to mind the style of an oryuntap (five-ring pagoda), and considering together the stone-working techniques, patterns and structure, it is presumed to have been made in the late Joseon period to the early modern period.

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Where it is

Region

Hapcheon, Gyeongnam

Designation

Cultural Heritage Material · 문화유산자료