Bunhwangsa Temple Pagoda

SOUTH KOREA, North Gyeongsang, Gyeongju

The pagoda, is located at Bunhwangsa (Fragrant Emperor Temple). Built in 634, it is the oldest dated stone pagoda from the Silla dynasty (57 BCE–935 CE). It was listed as National Treasure No. 30 in 1962. As part of the Gyeongju Historic Areas, the pagoda was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000.
This pagoda has a square plan and in its present form it is 9.3 m high. Only three of its original nine tiers are extant. This pagoda is a prototype of the Silla dynasty brick-like stone pagodas, which were built with black andesite stones cut to form bricks. Each tier has corbeling under the eaves and the entire pagoda does not have a single corner pillar. The base platform is built with natural stones and is covered with granite stones. At each corner of the platform there is a granite lion statue, except for the east corner, which has a statue of a seal as it faces the sea. The first tier of the pagoda body has an entrance at the center of each side. Each entrance is guarded by two Vajrapani figures in high relief. The height and width of the second and third tiers decrease progressively. The tiers above the third tier have collapsed and their debris has filled the center of the pagoda.
During its renovation in 1915, a reliquary box containing precious artifacts, such as a silver needle, scissors, and jade items, was found on the second and third tiers of the pagoda. The artifacts unearthed served as important research material for investigating the origins of Silla dynasty stone pagodas.