Three-story Stone Pagoda in Sinwol-ri, Yeongcheon

Basic information

Designation

Treasure No.465

Category

Sites & Pagodas

Era

통일신라시대

Designated year

1968

Location

영천시, 경상북도— 경북 영천시 금호읍 금호로 360-29, 신흥사 (신월리)

Coordinates

35.937501, 128.898758

This 4.75m-high three-story stone pagoda was erected during the 9th century of the Unified Silla Period. The name and size of the temple where this pagoda was originally built are unknown. Note, however, that the new Buddhist sanctuary, called Sinheungsa Temple, was recently built on this site where the pagoda is preserved. As with all typical three-story pagodas built during the Unified Silla Period, this pagoda consists of two-layer stylobate and three-story main body that looks like a tile-roofed house. Each of the corners and the middle of every facet of the two-layer stylobate are carved with a pillar pattern. Every facet of the upper layer of the stylobate is engraved with one of eight images of Palbujungsang, i.e., eight guardian deities of Buddhist law who frequently appeared on the stylobates of the stone pagodas of the Unified Silla Period to protect the Buddha’s sarira or Buddhist scriptures. Each of the core stone and roof stone of the main body is hewn from a single stone. All the corners of the core stones are engraved with pillar patterns. All the four facets of the core stone for the first story are carved with a design of a door whose lock and door handle are expressed. The roof stones have four-tier cornices. The eaves are horizontal but seem thick. The four edges of the roof stones curve swiftly upward. On the whole, the pagoda is not well-balanced since the core stone of the first story is too large compared to others, and all carvings on every facet seem a bit exaggerated. Nonetheless, it retains the beauty of the construction style of the pagoda of the time.

Location