Bowonsaji Five-story Stone Pagoda, Seosan

Basic information

Designation

National Treasure No.352

Category

Sites & Pagodas

Era

고려시대

Designated year

2025

Location

서산시, 충청남도— 충남 서산시 운산면 용현리 119-1번지

Coordinates

36.761847, 126.601107Kakao address conversion

This English description was machine-translated and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the original Korean text for details.

The Five-Story Stone Pagoda at Bowonsa Temple Site in Seosan has no specific records regarding its construction period. However, according to the stele inscription of Dharmamaster Boseung's Pagoda (法印國師 保承塔碑文) located within the temple site, there is a record that Tanmun (坦文, 900–974) created a Buddhist pagoda and Buddhist statue in spring for King Gwangjong of Goryeo while at Bowonsa Temple. Considering the construction techniques and style of the stone pagoda, it can be determined that the pagoda was built in the mid-10th century during the reign of King Gwangjong of Goryeo, making it a Goryeo-period stone pagoda that serves as a chronological standard for understanding the construction period of stone pagodas in Korea. The base consists of a two-tiered structural base, with upper and lower layers. On the lower-tier base stones, lion statues (獅子像) of different directions and forms are realistically expressed using bas-relief sculpture techniques. On the upper-tier base stones, the Eight Devas (八部衆像) are elegantly carved, inheriting the sculptural style and techniques of the Unified Silla period while well expressing the excellence of Goryeo-period stone sculpture. The pagoda body (塔身) and roof stones (屋蓋石) comprise five tiers, with proportional diminishment toward the upper levels, forming a stable composition and appearance. Door panels (門扉) are carved only on each face of the first-tier pagoda body, while the remaining tiers feature bas-relief carvings of pillar-like forms. The roof stones have four steps of roof supports carved low on the lower portion, and with the vertical height being lower in proportion to the horizontal width, they form different stone-dressing techniques and appearance from Unified Silla-period stone pagodas. The top finial section (上輪部) has an exposed base stone (露盤石) at the top with a long finial shaft (刹柱) inserted above it, with no other components remaining. The Five-Story Stone Pagoda at Bowonsa Temple Site in Seosan, with its relatively clear construction period, reveals the relationship between the Goryeo royal court and Buddhism, and as a stone pagoda that inherits the construction techniques and style of the late Unified Silla period while displaying new techniques of the Goryeo period, possesses outstanding historical, academic, and artistic value.

Location