Silsangsa Temple, located to the west of Cheonwangbong Peak, was constructed in 828 (the third year of the reign of King Heungdeok of the Silla Dynasty) when Hong Cheok (later granted the posthumous title of called National Priest Jeunggak) established the Buddhist sect of Silsangsan Mountain as one of the nine mountains of the Zen Order.
Several important relics are preserved within the enclosure situated to the south of Baekjangam Hermitage, including the stone lantern and the Three-story Stone Pagoda at Baekjangam Hermitage of Silsangsa Temple, Namwon (National Treasure No. 10).
This stone structure, located at Baekjangam Hermitage of Silsangsa Temple, consists of a three-layer base at the bottom, an octagonal stone lantern with a window in each of its eight faces at the center, and a roof with ornamentation at the top. In terms of its overall ornamentation, the base of the stone lantern is carved with an octagonal pillar at the center; the upper and lower layers are carved with eight symmetrically arranged lotus petals; and the finial is decorated with a large lotus bud. As the foundation of the lantern is buried under solid ground, the nature of the lower part of the structure cannot be determined.
In general, the lantern displays the basic octagonal structure of stone lanterns of the Unified Silla Period. Judging by the engraving techniques applied to each part, the lantern is estimated to have been built in the ninth century, during the late the Unified Silla Period.