Myohyangsan Bohyeonsa Temple Nine-Tier Pagoda

NORTH KOREA, North Pyongan, Hyangsan

The stone pagoda is located within the temple compound of Bohyeonsa (Samantabhadra Temple) on Myohyangsan (Wondrous Fragrance Mountain). It is also known as Prabhutaratna Pagoda and was built in 1004 during the Goryeo dynasty. The pagoda is listed as National Treasure No. 7.
The base of the stone pagoda is square and it is divided into three layers. The lowest layer consists of an undecorated block of stone, which has now cracked. The middle layer, which is also damaged, has indistinct incisions and is surmounted by an inverted lotus. The upper layer has a counter-relief on each side and is surmounted by an overhanging stone slab, on top of which is an inverted lotus. The first tier of the pagoda body has a square niche that used to house a statue of Prabhutaratna Buddha. It is the only tier with corner pilasters. The height of the first tier of the pagoda body is the same as the height of the upper layer of the base. The remaining tiers are shorter but are all approximately the same height. The eaves are formed by corbeling. The construction date of 1004 carved on the back of the first tier provides valuable information for the study of stone pagodas of the Goryeo dynasty (918–1392).