Multi-story Brick Pagoda of Silleuksa Temple, Yeoju

Basic information

Designation

Treasure No.226

Category

Sites & Pagodas

Era

고려시대

Designated year

1963

Location

여주시, 경기도— 경기도 여주시 신륵사길 73 (천송동, 신륵사) / (지번)경기 여주시 천송동 산113-1

Coordinates

37.297119, 127.662231

Brick pagodas like this one can be found in Gyeonggi-do and also in Andong, Gyeongsangbuk-do. The Silleuksa Temple is said to have been built by a great Buddhist monk named Wonhyo during the reign of King Jinpyeong of Silla. This pagoda stands on a rock to add to the beautiful natural backdrop of Hangang River. This six-storied brick pagoda is composed of a two-tiered foundation, three-tiered staircase, multi-storied main body and a capstone. The base and the staircase are made of granite while the main body composed of six tiers is made by piling up bricks. The capstone is sometimes treated as another story. The roof stones, disproportionately thin compared to the main bodies, have double-tiered cornice from the first to the third story and a single-tiered one from the forth to the sixth story, another element that tells of its unusual style. The ornamental top portion is relatively thin. The memorial stone located at the north of the pagoda has an inscription saying that the pagoda was rebuilt in 1726, in the second year of King Yeongjo. Judging from the pattern carved on the bricks, it is assumed to have been built in the early Goryeo Dynasty. If this proves to be true, it could be the only existing brick pagoda from the Goryeo Dynasty. Not much of the overall shape has been changed and marred during the repair works of later days.

Location