Five-story Stone Pagoda in Tamni-ri, Uiseong

Basic information

Designation

National Treasure No.77

Category

Sites & Pagodas

Era

통일신라시대

Designated year

1962

Location

의성군, 경상북도— 경북 의성군 금성면 오층석탑길 5-3 (탑리)

Coordinates

36.255207, 128.683830

This five-story stone pagoda located in Tamni-ri, Uiseong was built during the Unified Silla Period (676-935). It is characterized by a low, single-tier base supporting the main five-storied structure exhibiting a unique style achieved by combining the styles of brick pagodas and wooden architectural works. The base consists of a foundation of hewn rectangular stones on which, imitating a wooden architectural structure, middle and corner columns made from separate stone blocks are erected. As for the pagoda’s main body, the first story is significantly taller than the other stories, and it has a niche where one or more Buddha statues were enshrined. From the second story up, the bodies of the pagoda grow notably shorter. The roof of each story is stepped on by both under and upper sides as in brick pagodas. The cornice under the eaves is five-stepped, whereas the upper part is six-stepped. The roof stones are slightly upturned at the corners, patterned after the tile roof of a wooden building. Along with the Stone Brick Pagoda of Bunhwangsa Temple, Gyeongju (National Treasure No. 30), this pagoda is of great importance in studying the development of pagodas in Korea with its unique form and style.

Location