Stele of Buddhist Monk Boje at Silleuksa Temple, Yeoju

Basic information

Designation

Treasure No.229

Category

Books & Records

Era

고려시대

Designated year

1963

Location

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

Coordinates

37.298375, 127.661663

This memorial stone, erected in 1379 (5th year of King U) to honor the achievements of a great Buddhist monk named Naong, stands in the Silleuksa Temple grounds located on the foot of Bongmisan Mountain. Naong, who also holds the honorary title of Bojejonja, is regarded as a ‘great’ Buddhist monk for his dedication to restore Buddhism by unifying two Buddhist sects: doctrine-oriented Gyo Order and meditation-oriented Zen Order. According to the inscription on the memorial stone, Naong, the head monk of the Hoeamsa Temple in Yangju, died in the Silleuksa Temple on his way to Miryang as ordered by the king. His followers built this memorial stone and a stone bell to enshrine his remains. The Memorial Stone consists of a stone foundation, the three-tiered base and the main body, and the base is decorated with lotus flower patterns. The main body of the memorial stone is made of marble and flanked with granite pillars and topped with a capstone. The canopy-like capstone is furrowed and decorated like the tiled roofs of a wooden structure. It is unusual that the names of the composer and writer of the epigraph are recorded at the end rather than at the beginning of the epigraph. The epigraph was composed by Yi Saek, a famous Confucian scholar at the time, and written by Han Su, a prominent calligrapher in printed style. The memorial stone is considered as an excellent example that shows the simple style favored at the end of the Goryeo Dynasty.

Location