This pagoda stands in front of the main hall of the Dopiansa Temple, which was built in 865 (fifth year of the reign of King Gyeongmun of the Unified Silla period). One of the major Buddhist temples in Korea, the Dopiansa Temple have gone through many reconstruction works due to numerous social and political troubles throughout in Korean history. The last major reconstruction project was carried out in 1959. This three-story stone pagoda is one of the rare pagodas in Korea that are erected on an octagonal base instead of a square one. Each of the eight facets of the lower part of the base is decorated with the 'elephant’s eye' design carvings, which is supported by another octagonal stone piece carved with a lotus flower. The upper part of the base does not have any decoration except for the lotus design that surrounds the bottom. The general structure of the base is closer to a Buddhist altar than to the typical stone pagoda, and the tall body between the upper and lower parts reflects the typical style of Silla's stone pagoda around the 9th century. The main body and roof stone of each story are made of a single stone block without any particular decoration except the corner pillars carved in relief. The eaves, which have four-tiered cornice for the first story and three for the rest of the stories, look rather heavy but the edges are delightfully curved upward. All these elements show that the pagoda is in the interim style between those of Silla and Goryeo. It is known from an inscription on the Buddha in the temple's main hall that this pagoda was built in 865, the fifth year of the reign of King Gyeongmun of Unified Silla. The temple was also completed in the same year.