Flagpole Supports of Geumsansa Temple, Gimje

Basic information

Designation

Treasure No.28

Category

Architecture

Era

통일신라시대

Designated year

1963

Location

김제시, 전북특별자치도— 전북 김제시 금산면 금산리 28-3번지

Coordinates

35.722115, 127.053057

Danggan were flagpoles on which flags (dang) were hoisted at the entrance of a temple to mark special occasions such as Buddhist ceremonies or prayers. The flagpoles were supported by two stone buttresses called dangganjiju. The two flagpole supports are 3.5 m tall and lie to the north and south respectively. The one-story stylobate consists of six longish stones at the bottom and two stones at the top. The foundation stone of the base holding the flagpole is carved with a circle pattern without any other special decoration, while the two flagpole supports are simply carved with vertical bands in relief along the edges. Each of the two flagpole supports has three holes (top, middle, and bottom positions) for fixing the flagpole. This system of holes for supporting the flagpole is identical to that of other flagpole supports of the Unified Silla Period, including those at the Bomunsa Temple Site, Gyeongju (Treasure No. 123) and the Mireuksa Temple Site, Iksan (Treasure No. 236). These flagpole supports are regarded as the most complete and perfectly preserved examples in Korea, and are assumed to have been built in the late 8th century during Silla’s heyday.

Location