Stele of State Preceptor Wonjeung at Taegosa Temple, Goyang

Basic information

Designation

Treasure No.611

Category

Books & Records

Era

고려 우왕 11년(1385)

Designated year

1977

Location

고양시, 경기도— 경기 고양시 덕양구 대서문길 406 (북한동) / (지번)경기 고양시 덕양구 북한동 15

Coordinates

37.645566, 126.978645

This stele at Taegosa stands immediately next to the temple’s main sanctuary. State Preceptor Wonjeung (1301-1382) was a Buddhist monk of late Goryeo. He entered the priesthood at the age of thirteen at Hwaamsa Temple, where he was mentored by Master Gwangji. Thereafter, he stayed at several other temples, continuing his Buddhist learning. When he was forty-six years of age, he traveled to China. Some years later, during his second trip to China, Emperor Shundi, who learned about his visit, is said to have given him a robe as a present. He later became King Gongmin’s mentor, but soon left the capital city for Soseolsa Temple and died there in 1382 (the 8th year of King U’s reign of Goryeo). The stele is mounted on a tortoise base and has a head stone at the top. The tortoise has a dragon’s head, and the surface of its back is filled with long hexagonal patterns. The head stone is sculpted with dragon and cloud motifs in shallow carving. The stele was erected in 1385 (the 11th year of King U’s reign). The text of the inscription was composed by Yi Saek, a renowned penman in King U’s time, and the calligraphy is by Gwon Ju, a major calligrapher of this period. The sculptural work on this stele is rather lackluster and uninspired overall.

Location