Jeongamsa Sumano Pagoda in Jeongseon, Revitalizing the Spirit of Nature, to Become a National Treasure

Cultural Heritage Administration Promotes Jeongamsa Sumano Pagoda in Jeongseon to National Treasure and Designates Bonghwangsa Daeungjeon Hall in Andong as Treasure

Jeongseon Jeongamsa Sumano Pagoda

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jong-gil] The Sumano Pagoda (Jeongseon Jeongamsa Sumano Tower), said to enshrine the sarira relics from the body of Sakyamuni Buddha, will be elevated to National Treasure status. On the 17th, the Cultural Heritage Administration announced the preliminary designation of this stone pagoda, Treasure No. 410, as a National Treasure, and also announced the preliminary designation of the Daeungjeon Hall of Bonghwangsa Temple in Andong, a Gyeongbuk Tangible Cultural Property, as a Treasure.

According to the Samguk Yusa, Jeongamsa Temple, where the Sumano Pagoda is located, was founded in 643 by Monk Jajang, who returned from the Tang Dynasty's Wudai Mountain carrying the true sarira relics received from Bodhisattva Manjusri. The character 'Mano' in the name refers to agate, considered a gemstone along with gold and silver. There is a story that Monk Jajang made the pagoda from agate stone inspired by the Dragon King of the West Sea. The character 'Su' (水) preceding 'Mano' is interpreted to mean that it came along the waterway.

The Sumano Pagoda was designated as a Treasure in 1964. This is the third attempt to elevate it to National Treasure status. Each time, its unique characteristics, location, material, and form have been cited as grounds. The Sumano Pagoda is a stone pagoda imitating a brick pagoda (mojeon seoktap). Like the pagodas at Bunhwangsa Temple in Gyeongju and in Ipam-myeon, Yeongyang-gun, Gyeongbuk, stones were carved into brick shapes and stacked. Six tiers of granite were built for the pedestal, with two tiers of supports to hold the body of the pagoda.

Jeongseon Jeongamsa Sumano Pagoda

The body of the pagoda (tapsin) was built using dolomite limestone quarried from limestone layers. The stones, with a grayish-green hue, were carved to lengths of 30?40 cm and thicknesses of 5?7 cm. The surface was finely finished to resemble bricks. On the south face of the first tier of the body stone, a niche (gamshil) was created to enshrine a Buddha statue, with a single stone standing upright to form a door. A door ring made of iron was attached in the center. The Cultural Heritage Administration stated, "It is evaluated to have been built before the Goryeo period, as it demonstrates the sculptural stability, three-dimensionality, and balance characteristic of brick imitation stone pagodas since the Silla period."

The roof stones have short eaves, with the eaves slightly lifted at the ends. The number of support layers under the roof stones is seven tiers on the first floor, decreasing by one tier per floor, with the seventh floor having one tier. The upper surface of the roof stones has nine tiers on the first floor, decreasing by one tier per floor, with the seventh floor having three tiers. At the top, a bronze ornament was placed as a finial.

Temples enshrining true sarira relics typically do not place Buddha statues in the main hall. Jeongamsa also has a Buddha statue in the 'Jeokmyeolgung' located on the path leading to the Sumano Pagoda. This Jeokmyeolgung is known as one of Korea's five major Jeokmyeolbogung, along with those at Tongdosa in Yangsan, Odaesan in Pyeongchang, Beopheungsa in Yeongwol, and Bongjeongam in Inje.

The Sumano Pagoda can only be reached after climbing a steep slope behind the Jeokmyeolgung. Typically, pagodas are placed in front of the main Buddha hall (Geumdang) where the principal Buddha is enshrined. However, the Sumano Pagoda stands alone at a high place overlooking the mountain. It is believed to have been constructed on a high cliff due to the 'mountain and river protection' (sancheon bibo) philosophy and sarira faith, which aim to revitalize the declining mountain and river energies.

1972 Excavated Sarira Reliquary Sewing Case

During dismantling in 1972, five pagoda inscription stones (tapjiseok) were discovered, recording the reasons for the pagoda's construction and repair history, confirming the creation process. The Cultural Heritage Administration explained, "About 2,000 stone pagodas have been built in Korea, but only a few, such as the Three-story Stone Pagoda of Bulguksa Temple in Gyeongju, known as Seokgatap, and the Three-story Stone Pagoda of Beopgwangsa Temple in Pohang, have records of repair processes. Through the tapjiseok and the repair monument beside the pagoda, the repair periods, scope, duration, participants, and temples involved can be identified." They added, "Along with the Bulguksa Three-story Stone Pagoda and Dabotap, the Sumano Pagoda is a rare cultural asset whose name has been passed down to the present. It is also valuable as the only brick imitation stone pagoda in Korea enshrining true sarira relics."

The Daeungjeon Hall of Bonghwangsa Temple in Andong, preliminarily designated as a Treasure, is estimated to have been rebuilt in the late 17th century based on various plaques, inscriptions on Buddha statue pedestals, historical monuments, and repair records. It has five bays in the front and a hipped-and-gabled roof. Considering that three-bay gable-roofed Buddha halls were popular in the late Joseon period, its scale and style are exceptional. The front also features bulging columns, rare in the late Joseon period.

Andong Bonghwangsa Daeungjeon

The exterior was recently painted, but the interior's dancheong (traditional multicolored paintwork) from the 17th to 18th centuries is relatively well preserved. Particularly impressive are the dragons painted on the square coffered ceiling panels, the lotus and arabesque patterns delicately rendered in gold leaf, and the phoenix holding a lotus flower in its beak, playing among the clouds. The bracket sets (gongpo) differ on the front, sides, and rear. The Cultural Heritage Administration explained, "This reflects the difficult situation faced by the Buddhist community in Andong during the late Joseon period."

The Cultural Heritage Administration will collect opinions from various sectors during the 30-day public notice period and finalize the elevation of the two cultural properties after review by the Cultural Heritage Committee.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.