Five-story Stone Pagoda in Seongbuk-ri, Seocheon

Basic information

Designation

Treasure No.224

Category

Sites & Pagodas

Era

고려시대

Designated year

1963

Location

서천군, 충청남도— 충남 서천군 비인면 성북리 182-1번지

Coordinates

36.147387, 126.598638

Built in the early Goryeo Dynasty where regional characteristics were still apparent in Buddhist pagodas, this pagoda most strongly resembles the five-story stone pagoda at Jeongnimsa Temple Site (National Treasure No. 9) built in the time of Buyeo among the ones built in the old territory of Baekje before the unification. The stone platform comprises of four square stone plates, upon which the base of the pagoda is built with four stone pillars and slab walls between them, following the typical wooden architectural style of the time. The main body of upper tiers closely resembles the base platform except for the size decreasing with each level to form a trapezoid shape. Also, two stone plates are used to support the roof stone of each story, just as in the case of the Five-story Stone Pagoda of Jeongnimsa Temple Site. Roof stones are thin and wide, and the straight eaves slightly turn up at all four corners. The finial is composed of stones in various sizes forming the lowest part of the finial, and a square stone is placed on the top. The base of this pagoda is small and the roof stones are disproportionately large compared with the rest of the pagoda. Thus the overall impression is one of instability and unbalance. This pagoda is, however, a valuable source for the study of the influence of Baekje-style stone pagodas.

Location