Five-story Stone Pagoda at Seonggeosa Temple Site, Gwangju (Presumed)

Basic information

Designation

Treasure No.109

Category

Sites & Pagodas

Era

고려시대

Designated year

1963

Location

남구, 광주광역시— 광주광역시 남구 서오층석탑2길 17 (구동) 광주 남구 구동 16-2

Coordinates

35.147901, 126.907895

Built in the early Goryeo Dynasty, this five-story stone pagoda is located in Gwangju Park where Seonggeosa Temple is said to have existed. Gwangju Park has reportedly been originally called "Seonggeosan Mountain" due to its turtle-like shape, and local people are said to have constructed Seonggeosa Temple on its back area as well as a five-story pagoda on its neck area to prevent the turtle from leaving Gwangju. This five-story stone pagoda on a single-tier stylobate represents the unique style developed during the Goryeo Dynasty, since the pagodas in the Unified Silla period have a two-tier stylobate. Only moderately graduated, the rest of the stories are also comparatively tall but give a sense of balance and stability. Its unique feature is the core stone of the main body for its first story, which consists of the upper and lower parts structured with five stone blocks, forming a characteristic style of the Goryeo Dynasty. The roof stones have four-stepped cornices and eaves gently curving upward. During the repair work in 1961, an opening was found on the core stone of the second story, from which a sarira case was retrieved. The relic also gives an important clue as to the date of its construction. The first and third stories were restored during said repair work.

Location