Two Goryeo Stone Pagodas Elevated to National Treasure Status
Creatrip Team
3 months ago
South Korea’s Cultural Heritage Administration announced that two five-story Goryeo stone pagodas — the Seosan Bowon Temple site pagoda and the Yecheon Gaesimsa pagoda — have been upgraded from Treasure to National Treasure after 62 years. The Seosan Bowon pagoda is dated to mid-10th century (reign of King Gwangjong) based on an inscription and its construction and sculptural styles, making it a key chronological reference for dating Goryeo stone pagodas. Its two-tiered raised (gagu-style) base shows realistic lion sculptures on the lower tier and elegant Eight Heavenly Beings (Palbujung) on the upper tier, combining Unified Silla carving techniques with distinct Goryeo features. The Yecheon Gaesimsa pagoda, built in 1011 (Goryeo King Hyeonjong 2), bears a 190-character inscription that records its construction date and social context; its unique arrangement of zodiac guardian figures (Sipijisin) and pairs of Palbujung on the base alongside Vajra warrior images on the first story makes it architecturally distinctive. The Cultural Heritage Administration also announced plans to designate three Joseon-era pavilion buildings — the Chimgaeru of Songgwangsa (Suncheon), Manseru of Bongjeongsa (Andong), and Cheonboru of Yongjusa (Hwaseong) — as Treasures.
