Jeon Daegu Donghwasa Biroam Samcheungseoktap Napseoksariho

Basic information

Designation

Treasure No.741

Category

Craft

Era

통일신라 경문왕

Designated year

1982

Location

고양시, 경기도— 경기도 고양시

Coordinates

No precise coordinates are available, so this item is not shown as a map marker. To be added later.

This agalmatolite reliquary of the Unified Silla Period was discovered in the Three-story Stone Pagoda at Biroam Hermitage, Donghwasa Temple, Daegu (Treasure No. 247). The jar was used to store a sarira (relic of the Buddha or monks) inside the pagoda. It stands 8.3 cm tall and has an upper diameter of 8.0 cm and a base diameter of 8.5 cm. At present, it is broken into four pieces of different sizes; its lid is missing; and its body is in uneven condition, too. These damages seem to have been caused by grave robbers. The small and elegant jar is shaped with a wide mouth, swollen shoulder, and narrow lower portion. It was a popular design in mid-ninth century Silla, and similar jars of this type have also been found in the Three-story Stone Pagodas at Beopgwangsa and Chwiseosa Temples. Its most unique feature is its surface which is painted completely black. The shoulder area is divided into two sections, both of which are filled with repeated patterns of flower-like clouds and flowers in slanted lines. The body is divided by horizontal and vertical lines that create squares in which 38 lines of verse, each composed of seven characters, are engraved. These verses indicate that the jar is related to the stone pagoda built for King Minae (r. 838-839) of the Silla Dynasty, and include a detailed record of the king’s life and the construction date of the pagoda, i.e. 863, the 3rd year of the reign of King Gyeongmun.