Seongnyeondae (Stone Lotus Pedestal)

Seongnyeondae, the Stone Lotus Pedestal (National Treasure) with elegant, beautiful carvings is located about 10 meters to the southeast of Daejeokgwangjeon Hall. Seongnyeondae, the abbreviation of Seokjo-yeonhwadae, is a stone foundation used to support a statue of Buddha. Due to its exceptional size and the aesthetically valuable carvings on the stone, it is regarded as an excellent piece of existing sculpture.

Though Seongnyeondae is a single sculpture, it has been assembled in a perfectly ordered manner, as if a number of stones were jointed. The upper part is flat, and two square holes are in the middle. It appears that the holes were where the two legs of the Rock-carved Buddha were inserted. Judging by the size of Seongnyeondae, the Rock-carved Buddha is believed to have been enormous. A carved lotus surrounds the flat upper part, and numerous small leaves are carved between the flower petals, creating a splendid overall effect. The middle of the sculpture is decorated with hexagonal flower designs, and the lower part is covered with upside-down lotus leaves that seem to sway in the breeze.

Both the exact date of Seongnyeondae's creation and its original location remain unknown. But historians presume that it might never have been moved, because moving something this huge was probably quite impossible at that time. When the temple was reorganized and other buildings were destroyed, the statue of Buddha that once rested on this sculpted pedestal might have been removed and leaving only Seongnyeondae behind.

Next, we will go to Nahanjeon Hall, located at the back of Daejeokgwangjeon Hall.