'Yangju Hoeamsaji Saritap' Designated as National Treasure Cultural Property

Important Research Material on Stone Sculpture and Buddhist Pagoda Styles in the Joseon Dynasty
Representative Early Joseon Buddhist Pagoda of the Seungtap Type with Great Historical, Academic, and Artistic Value

Hoamsaji Saritap in Yangju [Provided by Yangju City]

[Asia Economy Reporter La Young-cheol] Ahead of the UNESCO World Heritage inscription of 'Yangju Hoeamsaji,' the 'Yangju Hoeamsaji Saritap (揚州 檜岩寺址 舍利塔)' located at the northern end of Hoeamsaji has been designated as a national treasure.

According to Yangju City on the 23rd, the Gyeonggi-do Tangible Cultural Property No. 52, 'Yangju Hoeamsaji Saritap,' is a true relic sarira pagoda built by royal patronage in the early Joseon period.

It is a very precious heritage that reveals various elements of royal Buddhist art, such as the sarira pagoda style, Buddhist art iconography, and decorative patterns. It is not only large in scale but also well preserved.

The sarira pagoda is divided into a multi-layered pedestal based on an octagonal shape, a cylindrical pagoda body, and a finial section.

There is a two-tiered pedestal on the upper surface of the base stone with an octagonal plan, and compared to other monk pagodas, the pedestal face stones are tall and the capstones are thick, making it the sarira pagoda with the tallest pedestal currently existing.

Each side of the pedestal is decorated with dragons, kirin, floral patterns (草花紋), arabesque patterns (唐草紋), and the Eight Heavenly Generals from the lower pedestal base stones to the upper pedestal capstones.

In particular, the outstanding carvings and stone carving techniques of dragons and kirin engraved on the sarira pagoda have been found to have a close affinity with early Joseon royal stone structures.

Through excavation surveys and documentary records, it is known that the true relic sarira of Sakyamuni Buddha was enshrined, and the influence relationship with the Samhwasang Buddha stupa located in the Hoeamsa area can also be inferred.

The overall style, construction techniques, and detailed patterns are similar to royal stone structures related to early Joseon royal tombs.

Considering the scale of the sarira pagoda, the condition of the stone carving, and the jointing techniques, it is estimated that the best stonemason of the time designed and constructed it.

According to research by many scholars and various records such as the 2013 Hoeamsaji Museum research series, the Hoeamsaji Sarira Pagoda is a representative work of early Joseon period monk pagoda-type Buddhist pagodas with great historical, academic, and artistic value.

Currently, the sarira pagoda is attracting attention as a valuable resource for studying Joseon dynasty stone art and Buddhist pagoda styles.

The city established a plan last year for the designation and promotion of the 'Yangju Hoeamsaji Sarira Pagoda' as a national cultural asset to enhance its academic and cultural value and for systematic preservation management, and submitted related materials to Gyeonggi Province and the Cultural Heritage Administration.

Mayor Lee Seong-ho said, "With the designation of the Yangju Hoeamsaji Sarira Pagoda as a national treasure, we have taken a step closer to proving the UNESCO World Heritage value of Yangju Hoeamsaji," and added, "We will utilize it as a representative historical and cultural resource of Yangju."

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