[Treasure] Five-story stone brick pagoda of Unified Silla

Five-story Stone Brick Pagoda in Sanhae-ri, Yeongyang County, North Gyeongsang. [CULTURAL HERITAGE ADMINISTRATION]

Name: Five-story Stone Brick Pagoda in Sanhae-ri, Yeongyang

Period: Unified Silla (668-935)

Location: YeongyangCounty, North Gyeongsang

Status: National Treasure No. 187

This stone pagoda stands surrounded by farmland in a small agricultural village called Bonggam, Yeongyang County, North Gyeongsang province. A large number of fragments of roof tiles and celadon are scattered around the pagoda, suggesting that there once was a temple here. The Bonggam Five-story Stone Pagoda takes its name from the village in which it is located. A five-story body stands on a single-tier foundation comprised of 10 or so large rectangular stones. The platform is made of earth and gravel. The body and roof of the pagoda are constructed with stones cut in the shape of a brick. The first story has a niche complete with door posts and a frame elaborately carved on one side. From the second story up, the middle portion of each body projects outward, forming a band-like shape. The roof of each story is stepped on both the under and upper sides, as with most brick pagodas. The exact number of the steps is not available because of the thick vines winding around them. Judging from the single-tier foundation, excellent stonework and the ornament around the niche, this pagoda seems to date from the Unified Silla (668-935) period. Overall proportions, well-ordered composition and magnificent beauty make this pagoda a representative example of pagodas consisting of stones cut in the shape of a brick.

Photos and text are provided by the Cultural Heritage Administration. For more information, call (042) 481-4650 or visit www.cha.go.kr.