Silsangsa Temple Baekjangam Hermitage Three-Tier Pagoda

SOUTH KOREA, North Jeolla, Namwon

This pagoda is located within Baekjangam Hermitage, which is a branch of Silsangsa Temple. The pagoda was built in the late Unified Silla dynasty (668–935). It was listed as National Treasure No. 10 in 1962.
The 5 m high granite pagoda is a rare stone pagoda with elaborate carvings and reliefs of Bodhisattvas, Heavenly Kings, and apsaras. Reliefs of balustrades are carved at the base of the pagoda, as well as on the lower part of each tier of the pagoda body. The first tier of the body is decorated with reliefs of Bodhisattvas and Heavenly Kings on each side. The second tier has sculptures of a pair of apsaras playing music on each side, while the third tier has reliefs of a heavenly being flying on clouds on every side. The corbeling underneath the eaves is not stepped like typical Korean stone pagodas, but it is lotus-shaped on the first two tiers and sculpted with Buddha Triad reliefs on the third tier. The spire consists of the base, an inverted bowl, an upright lotus, stacked rings, canopy, and a finial. This pagoda is unique with intricate carvings on all tiers, which make it one of the most elegant stone pagodas of the Unified Silla dynasty.