Three-story Stone Pagoda in Eunseon-ri, Jeongeup

Basic information

Designation

Treasure No.167

Category

Sites & Pagodas

Era

고려시대

Designated year

1963

Location

정읍시, 전북특별자치도— 전북 정읍시 영원면 은선리 43번지

Coordinates

35.643680, 126.793663

This three-story pagoda, erected in the mid-Goryeo Dynasty, is located in Eunseon-ri, Jeongeup. It is rather unique in that the first story is unusually tall while the two upper stories are short. The pagoda has a one-layer stylobate similar to that of the Five-story Stone Pagoda at the Jeongnimsa Temple Site, Buyeo (National Treasure No. 9). The core and roof stones are composed of several pieces of stone. The core stone of the first floor is very tall, lending he pagoda an abnormal appearance, and the corners of every face are engraved with faded pillar patterns. The core stone of the second floor is considerably reduced in height and width. Given that there are two doors hanging from the southern side, it is assumed that a niche (a space to enshrine a Buddha statue) was built on that side. This is a very rare example of a pagoda in which doors are actually built, as generally speaking pagodas only have a niche engraved with door patterns. The core stone of the third floor is smaller than that of the second floor and is unadorned. Flat stones were used to make the roof stones. Another flat stone lies on top of the roof stone, but it is not certain whether it is part of the finial. Although it is assumed that the pagoda was built in the mid-Goryeo Dynasty, the stylobate and roof stones follow the style of stone pagodas of the Baekje Dynasty, indicating that older Baekje-style pagodas were still being erected during the Goryeo Dynasty. Although this pagoda lacks stability because the core stone of the first story is too high, and because the stylobate and the core stones of the other stories are relatively narrow, it displays an unusual style and shows certain signs of the transition from the Baekje style of pagoda to the Goryeo style.

Location