Wolchulsan Yongamsaji Three-story Stone Pagoda, Yeongam

Basic information

Designation

Treasure No.1283

Category

Sites & Pagodas

Era

고려시대

Designated year

1998

Location

영암군, 전라남도— 전남 영암군 영암읍 회문리 산26-8번지

Coordinates

34.762812, 126.690391

Yongamsa Temple is located below Gujeongbong Peak, Wolchulsan Mountain. Wolchulsan is called Sogeumgang in the South due to the many grotesque-looking rocks. [Sogeumgang in Odaesan was named as such due to its beautiful scenery similar to that of Geumgang (literally meaning “diamond”)-san Mountain]. Many roof tile pieces and cornerstones left in the 990㎡-sized site point to the past existence of buildings. Roof tiles inscribed with the name of Yongamsa Temple were unearthed in 1955, indicating that it is the site of the one with said name as recorded in Dongguk yeoji seungnam (Augumented Survey of the Geography of Korea). No other details are available, however. The three-tiered stone pagoda stands on a rock called Tapbong southeast of the temple site. The stone pagoda was set up on a two-tiered platform. The square platform displays the shape of a column inscribed on the four corners and at the center of each side. Two tiers of stones are placed at the top of the platform. One of the stones used to be missing but was replenished during the restoration work carried out in 1966. The first tier of the body is composed of two stones, with the second and top tiers consisting of one stone each. Each corner of the body was made to look like a column. As for the roof stones, those for the first and second tier are composed of two stones each, whereas the top tier had only one stone. The bottoms of the roof stones are five-tiered (first tier), four-tiered (second tier), and three-tiered (top tier). The edges of the roof stones are unusually obtuse for a stone pagoda made on the Korean Peninsula. As for the stupa finial, only a square bottom stone is left. At the time of the work performed to repair the collapsed stone pagoda in 1966, the following items were found from the lower tier of the platform: white porcelain sarira jar, miniature image of a gilt-bronze seated bodhisattva, blue celadon dish, 32 pieces of sarira, and 11 iron pieces.

Location