Stele of Buddhist Monk Daegyeong from Borisa Temple Site, Yangpyeong

Basic information

Designation

Treasure No.361

Category

Books & Records

Era

고려시대

Designated year

1963

Location

용산구, 서울특별시— 서울 용산구 서빙고로 137, 국립중앙박물관 (용산동6가)

Coordinates

37.523522, 126.981052

The stele for Daegyeong, a Buddhist monk during the late Unified Silla and early Goryeo periods, was found at the site of Borisa Temple, and it was later moved to Gyeongbokgung Palace. Now it stands in the National Museum of Korea. Daegyeong became a monk when he was nine. He first joined the non-Zen Buddhism, but later he studied Zen Buddhism. After studying in Tang Dynasty China, he returned and became a teacher of King Gyeongsun of Unified Silla. King Taejo of Goryeo let him to stay as a chief monk at Borisa Temple. After he entered Nirvana at the age of sixty-nine, Taejo granted him the posthumous name Daegyeong and the name of stupa ‘Hyeongi’. Although its tortoise-shaped flat pedestal with a magic stone in its mouth and the huge head stone of the stele are not harmonious or well-balanced, it is interesting that the cloud and dragon shaped patterns on the head stone look very powerful. On this memorial stone, the life and achievements of Daegyeong are recorded, composed by Choe Eon-wi, inscribed by Yi Hwan-chu, and engraved by Choe Mun-yun, one of his pupils. It is representative of early Goryeo that the edges of the strokes are so sharp that they give a powerful impression. It was built in the 22nd year of the reign of King Taejo of Goryeo (939), 10 years after Daegyeong entered Nirvana.

Location