Stele of State Preceptor Wongak at Yeongguksa Temple, Yeongdong

Basic information

Designation

Treasure No.534

Category

Books & Records

Era

고려 명종 10년(1180)

Designated year

1971

Location

영동군, 충청북도— 충북 영동군 양산면 누교리 산138-1번지 영국사

Coordinates

36.156807, 127.609881

This stele located inside Yeongguksa Temple was erected in memory of State Preceptor Wongak, a famous monk of the middle Goryeo period. State Preceptor Wongak became a monk at a young age, reaching the status of chief monk not long after. As he entered Nirvana in 1174 (the 4th year of the reign of King Myeongjong), the king put his remains in Yeongguk Temple. The stele has an ordinary structure composed of turtle-shaped base, stele body, and stele top. The turtle-shaped base is in the typical style of Goryeo. The head of the turtle, which looks like that of a dragon, is less sophisticated than the former, and it has neither hexagonal patterns on the turtleback nor vine patterns on the spot linked to the bottom of the stele. The stele body, which has lost its bottom part, has been damaged considerably. The stele top is engraved with perfunctory cloud and dragon patterns, and the middle of its front has an epitaph (“the stele of State Preceptor Wongak”). Its overall shape looks heavy, which characterizes the style of that era. The stele base is larger than its body, looking stable, but its excessively large top makes it look heavy. According to Daedong Geumseokseo, the epitaph was written by Han Mun-jun, and the stele was erected in 1180 (the 10th year of the reign of King Myeongjong of Goryeo).

Location