2. Three-story Stone Pagoda of Tongdosa Temple

[Woman]
Standing in front of the Yeongsanjeon Hall of Tongdosa Temple, this pagoda has a three-tier pagoda body on top of the two-tier stylobate. The stylobate is decorated with a column shape, and the lower tier has a shallow carving of the eye shape. The pagoda body was constructed by alternating body and roof stones, and the curved eaves of the roof stone and the lifted corners are visible at a glance.

The stone pagoda is about 3.5 meters high and has four long footstones carved into the foundation stone. It displays a double stylobate, a typical style of stone pagodas from the Unified Silla Period. The upper stylobate is carved with a pillar in the corner, and the lower stylobate is carved with three ornaments on each side. This style is characteristic of those found in the late Unified Silla Period or after the 9th century, during which the decorative function of stone pagodas was emphasized.

Each pagoda body has only a corner pillar with no particular carving, and the roof stone reduces the roof support to the four layers, reflecting the trend of the times. The upper part is installed with an ornament made of a two-layered pedestal on top of the roof stone on the third tier, and there is a semi-spherical finial ornament and jewel canopy on top of it, but it remains inconclusive as to whether the part above the ornament was originally a part of this pagoda.

[Teacher]
"We estimate that stone pagodas began to be built in Korea around the year 600 at the end of the Three Kingdoms Period."

[Pupil]
"Are you saying there was technology for building stone pagodas around 600?”

[Teacher]
"Buddhism is believed to have been introduced to Korea between the late 4th and the late 6th century.”

[Pupil]
"Yes, that's right.”

[Teacher]
"During those 200 years, we had been building wooden pagodas. The technology required to build stone pagodas was gained through building wooden pagodas.”

[Pupil]
“Wow! That sounds about right. The know-how gained from the building of the wooden pagodas led us to build the stone pagodas?”

[Teacher]
"That's right. Stone pagodas cannot be built overnight."

[Pupil]
"By the way, Has the Stone Pagoda of Tongdosa Temple always been here?”

[Teacher]
“No, it hasn’t. The pagoda was dismantled and restored in 1987. It was then moved to the northeast, about 1.5 meters from its original location. To the location where it stands now."

[Pupil]
"I heard that relics are usually found when a tower is dismantled and restored. Were there any such relics in this pagoda?”

[Teacher]
"Of course there were. At that time, a white porcelain vessel dating back to the Joseon Dynasty was found among the rubble in the upper stylobate. Two gilt-bronze Buddha statues and bronze spoons were found in the lower stylobate.”

[Pupil]
"Bronze spoons and white porcelain from the Joseon Dynasty... That’s an odd combination."

[Teacher]
"We regard the relics as showing that it has been rebuilt once before.”

[Pupil]
“Ah! I see!”

[Woman]
The stone pagodas of Silla tend to undergo partial changes and become smaller over time following the 8th century. In general, with the beginning of the 9th century, the transformation gradually took off, and in the late 9th century, a significant change was made. After the 9th century, the society experienced unrest due to family discord and the rise of many local rival leaders in Silla, withering artistic values. In particular, the formative arts were affected, undergoing a transformation from the vibrant spirit into wanness and frailty. As a result, the size of each sculpture naturally decreased, and the style of each part became weakened or omitted.

The Three-story Stone Pagoda of Tongdosa Temple is a valuable resource for understanding the stone cultural assets of Tongdosa Temple along with the kneeling stone in front of the pagoda. The worship stone is decorated with a rectangular pattern of lotus flowers, and according to the engraved calligraphy writing, it was built in 1085, the second year of King Seonjong.