Stone Lantern Inside the West Gate, Naju

Basic information

Designation

Treasure No.364

Category

Sites & Pagodas

Era

고려시대

Designated year

1963

Location

나주시, 전라남도— 전라남도 나주시 고분로 747 (반남면, 국립나주박물관)

Coordinates

34.914961, 126.658855

Originally located at Seomun Gate (west gate) of Naju-eup, Jeollanam-do, this lantern was moved to Gyeongbokgung Palace in 1929. Now it is placed in the National Museum of Korea. It stands on a wide square base stone, surmounted by the bottom octagonal pedestal engraved with lotus flower patterns. The middle pedestal in the shape of a pillar has eight sides. Each side has a space surrounded by a band and engraved with a line of sentence within it. On eight sides of the upper pedestal are engraved the lotus flower patterns. The light chamber, which has been newly rebuilt, has four windows. The capstone is well decorated, with vertical stripes on each of the eight sides. It was likely that a short curtain hung down from the tip of the eaves. Freshly blooming floral decorations are hung luxuriantly above it, and a stone which appears to be a miniature roof is laid on top of the capstone. A lotus bud sculpture was newly added when the lantern was moved and rebuilt. Although the individual parts of the sculpture are rather dull, the form of the capstone shows a decorative artisanship. While it follows the shape of the octagonal stone lantern of the Unified Silla period, it is a unique work of the Goryeo Dynasty, and its structure and sculpture are excellent.

Location