Three-story Stone Pagoda at Myoeomsa Temple Site, Jinju

Basic information

Designation

Treasure No.379

Category

Sites & Pagodas

Era

고려시대

Designated year

1963

Location

진주시, 경상남도— 경남 진주시 수곡면 효자리 447-1번지

Coordinates

35.195992, 127.940840

This pagoda was built at the site of a temple in the Goryeo Dynasty. It is a three-story structure, standing on a two-story stylobate. The lower stylobate is buried under the ground so that the whole structure cannot be clearly seen. Broad pillar patterns are engraved on the corners and middle parts of the upper stylobate. A broad square stone was laid on the upper stylobate, while the center part of the square stone was made into a two-tiered base to support the main body. The main stone and the roof stone are composed of a single stone for each floor. The whole structure looks unbalanced and unstable because the main stone of the first story is relatively high, while the rest of the stones are far smaller than the first. A broad pillar design is engraved on the body stone, while designs of two doors with bars and door rings are engraved on the west side of the first story. The roof stones are thick compared with their width. Whereas the first and second stories have four-tiered base each, the third story has three-tiered one, and therefore, the roof looks relatively thick and steep. The upper and lower lines of the eaves are leveled, and the corners are curved slightly upward. At the top of the pagoda, only the finial base supporting the ornaments on the head remains. Although this pagoda was partly destroyed and buried, it is in a good state of preservation. However, it is far from the typical stone pagoda of the Silla period. The upper and lower parts look so unbalanced that it gives a rough impression, and the framework or the finishing skills became dull. It is assumed that the pagoda was built later than the middle of the Goryeo Dynasty, and it is considered to represent well the typical stone pagoda of that period.

Location