Stele of State Preceptor Jigwang at Beopcheonsa Temple Site, Wonju

Basic information

Designation

National Treasure No.59

Category

Sites & Pagodas

Era

고려시대

Designated year

1962

Location

원주시, 강원특별자치도— 강원 원주시 부론면 법천리 산70번지

Coordinates

37.209620, 127.764709

The stele erected to mark the stupa enshrining the relics of the State Preceptor (984-1067) is located at the site where a Buddhist temple named Beopcheonsa had existed. The preceptor’s reliquary stupa has been moved to the National Palace Museum of Korea. The stele is put on a tortoise-shaped pedestal and covered with a capstone resembling a crown. The tortoise forming the pedestal features the head of a dragon rather than a tortoise with bulging, wide open eyes, wide open mouth, and long beard. The shell of the tortoise is carved with many squares each containing the Chinese character Wang (meaning “king”). The body of the stele carries, in addition to the inscription honoring the monk, two dragons flying between clouds engraved in a detailed, realistic manner on both sides. The capstone has elaborately carved “corner flowers” and three lotus blossoms located between every two. The epitaph of the stele commemorates the life and achievement of State Preceptor Jigwang as a Buddhist leader. The text was composed by Jeong Yu-san (?-1091) and calligraphed by An Min-hu based on the style developed by great Chinese calligrapher Ouyang Xu (d. 618).

Location