Gagyeonsa Tongildaesa Memorial Stele of Buddhist Monk, Goesan

Basic information

Designation

Treasure No.1295

Category

Books & Records

Era

광종 9년(958)

Designated year

1999

Location

괴산군, 충청북도— 충북 괴산군 칠성면 각연길 451 (태성리)

Coordinates

36.753579, 127.929422

The stele contains records about the deeds of Monk Tongil, who carried out activities in the early Goryeo Period (918-1392). It is located at the foot of a hill about 1km southeast of Gagyeonsa Temple in Goesan. When he returned home after studying in China and gave a lecture on Buddha’s teachings for the people of the Royal Family, a crowd of people gathered to attend. Upon his death, King Gwangjong presented him with the honorary title Tongil and had famed writer Kim Jeong-eon write an epitaph for his tombstone. The stele is composed of a tortoise-shaped platform, the body, and the capstone. The head of what looks like the body of a tortoise is actually the head of a dragon, which was a feature of a change in the style made between the late Unified Silla Period (676 - 935) and the early Goryeo Period (918-1392). The Chinese characters inscribed on the body have been weathered; thus, only about 260 of the 3,500 are now legible. Each side of the square capstone contains the image of a magnificent-looking dragon. The four dragons hold up their heads to support a lotus-shaped bead at the center. As one of the few olden-day steles existing in their original location and in good condition, it was set up in 958 (the 9th year of the reign of King Gwangjo of Goryeo). Each part of the stele showcases the excellent workmanship of that period.

Location