Pohang Bogyeongsa Five-Story Stone Pagoda Designated as National Cultural Heritage 'Treasure'

Unique and Diverse Stone Pagoda Styles of 11th Century Goryeo

Final Review by Cultural Heritage Administration and National Heritage Committee... Designated as Treasure on the 16th

Pohang City announced on the 16th that the Cultural Heritage Administration designated the ‘Pohang Bogyeongsa Five-story Stone Pagoda’ as a national designated cultural heritage ‘Treasure’ after the final review by the National Heritage Committee.

Pohang Bogyeongsa Five-Story Stone Pagoda.

The Pohang Bogyeongsa Five-story Stone Pagoda is located between the Jeokgwangjeon Hall and the Cheonwangmun Gate within Bogyeongsa Temple in Songra-myeon, Buk-gu, both of which are designated treasures. According to the ‘Naeyeonsan Bogyeongsa Geumdangtapgi’ written in 1588, it is known to have been built in 1023 (Goryeo Hyunjong, the year of Gyehae).

There are historical records that provide an exact date of creation, making it a standard work for the study of early Goryeo stone pagodas. It is an important example showing detailed carvings of locks and door handles, representing the typical features of early Goryeo stone pagodas.

During the early Goryeo period, many multi-storied pagodas with five or more stories were constructed, and as Buddhism became more popular among the general public, the patrons of pagoda construction diversified nationwide.

In particular, the 11th century was a period that revealed the uniqueness and diversity of Goryeo. The Pohang Bogyeongsa Five-story Stone Pagoda is believed to have been created around the 11th century, as evidenced by the overall proportions of the pagoda, the door decoration (munbi, 門扉) expressed on the first-story body stone, and the water-cut groove under the roof stone, consistent with the historical records.

Pohang City plans to promote projects for public viewing and utilization of a total of eight treasures of Bogyeongsa, including the Pohang Bogyeongsa Five-story Stone Pagoda, and the nationally designated natural heritage (scenic site) ‘Naeyeonsan Waterfall of Pohang Bogyeongsa’ in close consultation with the Cultural Heritage Administration.

A city official stated, “We will continue to conduct academic research to select cultural heritage sites in Pohang with historical and academic value and designate or upgrade them as national designated heritage.”

In the past two years, there have been 10 nationally designated cultural heritage sites located in Pohang, and the city is currently promoting national heritage designation (upgrade) projects for 25 sites, including the Sumi-dan altar of Jeokgwangjeon Hall at Bogyeongsa and the Daeungjeon Hall of Oeosa Temple.

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