Kaeguksa Temple Stone Lantern

NORTH KOREA, North Hwanghae, Kaesong

The stone lantern was originally located at Kaeguksa (Founding Nation Temple). The temple was one of the ten largest temples during the Goryeo dynasty (918–1392). It was built in 935 to pray for the prosperity of the country and in memory of the soldiers who died in war. The stone lantern was built in 1018 and was relocated to the Koryo History Museum in Kaesong in 1936.
The base of the stone lantern is square, measuring 1.9 m on each side, and consists of an inverted lotus with twelve petals and floral patterns at the very bottom. The pillar supporting the body is octagonal. The body of the lantern is formed as follows: an upturned lotus with 16 petals is surmounted by a square platform with a square pillar at each corner; the pillars support the square pyramidal roof which turns up slightly at the corners; in the center of the roof there is a jewel. The overall design of the lantern is one of simplicity.