Stele of Royal Preceptor Hyedeok at Geumsansa Temple, Gimje

Basic information

Designation

Treasure No.24

Category

Books & Records

Era

고려시대(1111)

Designated year

1963

Location

김제시, 전북특별자치도— 전라북도 김제시 금산면 금산리 산 4-6

Coordinates

35.724340, 127.056322

Located in Geumsansa Temple, this stele was built to commemorate the life and achievements of Royal Preceptor Hyedeok. A renowned priest of the mid-Goryeo Period, Hyedeok was born in 1038 (the fourth year of the reign of King Jeongjong), began to study Buddhist teachings at the age of eleven, and became a Buddhist monk the following year. He became the head priest at Geumsansa Temple in 1079, and when King Sukjong converted to Buddhism and appointed Hyedeok as a Buddhist priest, he delivered a lecture on Buddhist teachings for the king. Upon his death at the age of 59, the king raised his status to that of Royal Preceptor and granted him the posthumous title of “Hyedeok” and erected a pagoda named “Jineung” in his honor. The stele’s ornamental capstone has been lost, and its epitaph is so badly damaged that it is hard to decipher the inscription. The stele’s pedestal is carved with a turtle with a small head and big body. Overall, the main body of the stele is engraved with vine patterns and an epitaph, and seems too large for its pedestal. The epitaph describes the life and teachings of Hyedeok in the square style of Chinese handwriting. Many historians have compared the calligraphic style of the epitaph with that of Gu Yang-sun, a famous calligraphic artist of ancient China, although others insist that it is more vivid and lucid than Gu’s original style. Some art historians have also concluded from this work that the calligraphic style of the Goryeo Dynasty was more refined than those of the Silla and Joseon Dynasties. According to the epitaph, the stele was built in 1111 (the sixth year of the reign of King Yejong of the Goryeo Dynasty), some fifteen years after Hyedeok's death.

Location