Three-story Stone Pagoda in Dongbon-ri, Yecheon

Basic information

Designation

Treasure No.426

Category

Sites & Pagodas

Era

통일신라시대

Designated year

1965

Location

예천군, 경상북도— 경북 예천군 예천읍 동본리 474-4번지

Coordinates

36.658933, 128.461759

This three-story stone pagoda is located at a geomantically propitious spot, i.e. with the Hancheonggang River flowing in front and the Heugeungsan Mountain rising at the back. As the pagoda and a stone Buddha statue remain intact at this site, it is thought to have been a temple site, although the name of the temple is unknown. It is unclear whether the stylobate was two-layered or single-layered, as the lower part of the upper layer was found buried underground. At present, the inclined stone is placed on the base on which the middle stone of the stylobate is placed. Made with four stone plates, the middle stone of the stylobate is carved with the Four Guardian Kings, four gods protecting the Buddhist Canon, between the carvings of columns on every corner. The core stones of the main body and the roof stones are each hewn from single blocks of stone; and the four corners of every core stone are engraved with pillar patterns. The roof stones of the first and second stories have five-tiered cornices, while the third story has a four-tiered cornice. Notably, the core stone of the first story is too large compared with those of the second and third stories. The eaves of the gently sloping roof stones are horizontal, but turn swiftly upward at the edges. Of the upper part of the pagoda, only the finial base and the finial (which resembles an over-turned bowl), made from a single stone, remain, but it looks like it was repaired in a later period. Although the pagoda isn’t very large, it is nicely balanced and well proportioned, exhibiting a beautiful structure. In addition, the technique used to carve the Four Guardian Kings on the middle stone of the stylobate is natural rather than formal. Given that the number of cornices on the roof stones decreases upwards and the pagoda has a simple style of supporting stone for each part, it is presumed that this three-story stone pagoda was made during the late Unified Silla Period.

Location