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

Basic information

Designation

National Treasure No.187

Category

Sites & Pagodas

Era

통일신라시대

Designated year

1977

Location

영양군, 경상북도— 경북 영양군 입암면 산해리 391-6번지

Coordinates

36.584863, 129.069497

This stone pagoda stands in the center of a farmland in a small farming village called Bonggam, Yeongyang-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do 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 pagoda, 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 comprising about 10 or so large rectangular stones. The platform is made of earth and gravel. The body and roof of the pagoda are made of stones cut in the shape of a brick. The first story has a niche complete with door posts and frame elaborately carved on one side. From the second story up, the middle portion of each body projects outward, forms a band-like shape. The roof of each story is stepped on both the under and upper sides as in 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 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.

Location