Cheongamsa Temple Sudoam Hermitage Twin Pagodas

SOUTH KOREA, North Gyeongsang, Gimcheon

This pair of pagodas are said to have been built by National Master Doseon during the Unified Silla dynasty (668–935). They were listed as Treasure No. 297 in 1963.
Both pagodas consist of three levels: base, body and spire. The east pagoda is 3.8 m high and the west pagoda is 4.3 m high. The base platform of the east pagoda has intermediate and corner pilasters. Each level of the pagoda body has a pilaster at each corner. There are 5 cm high Buddha niches carved on the faces of the first level. Beneath the roofs, which are slightly upturned at the corners, there are five layers of corbeling representing the eaves. The spire consists of a base, an inverted bowl, and a wheel.
The base platform of the west pagoda consists of two layers. The lower layer has intermediate and corner pilasters on each side, while the upper layer has only corner pilasters. In addition, there are pilasters on every corner of each level of the pagoda body. On the first level of the pagoda body, which is higher than the second and third tiers, there are carved images of the seated Buddha on all sides. Under the roofs there are five layers of corbeling representing the eaves. The spire consists of a base, an inverted bowl and a wheel. The differences in style make it hard to determine if both pagodas were constructed at the same time.