East and West Three-story Stone Pagodas of Seonamsa Temple, Suncheon

Basic information

Designation

Treasure No.395

Category

Sites & Pagodas

Era

통일신라시대

Designated year

1963

Location

순천시, 전라남도— 전남 순천시 승주읍 선암사길 450 (죽학리) / (지번)전남 순천시 승주읍 죽학리 802

Coordinates

34.996427, 127.331204

There are two stories about the construction of Seonamsa Temple. One is that it was constructed by Buddhist Monk Ado of the Silla Dynasty, in the 3rd year of the reign of King Jinpyeong (542) and the other, which is more authorized, is that State Preceptor Doseon constructed and named it in the 5th year of the reign of King Heongang (875). The name Seonam (‘Immortals Rock’) is said to come from the huge, flat and rock that soars up to the west of the temple, and which was a place where immortals come to play the chess-like game baduk. When you cross Seungseongyo Bridge into the temple and arrive in the front yard, you see two three-story pagodas standing side by side in front of the main hall. The pagodas are of the typical style of the Silla period with a two-story stylobate, and they appear to have been made by the same person at the same time judging from their identical scale and style. Each of the corners and middles of the two stories of the stylobate is decorated with the carving of a pillar, and a 3-tiered flat stone is set on each story to support the upper stone. The main stone and the roof stone of the body are each made up of a single stone and the main stone also has a carving of a pillar at each corner. With a 4-tiered strut, the eaves of roof are horizontal and the 2-tiered strut at the top of the roof is most unusual. On the top, only the final base remains, supporting the finial with small stones placed on it. These two pagodas in the same style are somewhat damaged but still in fairly good condition. Maintaining the style of the Silla stone pagoda, they show appropriate and elegant proportions of the upper and lower parts. On the basis of the style in which the pillars are carved, they are judged to be works of the 9th century, later than the middle Silla era.

Location