Skip Navigation

Heritage Search

Treasure

Multi-story Brick Pagoda of Silleuksa Temple, Yeoju

여주 신륵사 다층전탑 ( 驪州 神勒寺 多層塼塔 )

Heritage Search Detail
Classification Treasure
Name of Cultural Properties Multi-story Brick Pagoda of Silleuksa Temple, Yeoju
Quantity 1 pagoda
Designated Date 1963.01.21
Age Goryeo
Address Silleuksa Temple 73, Silleuksa-gil, Yeoju-eup, Yeoju-gun, Gyeonggi-do

Brick pagodas like this one can be found in Gyeonggi-do and also in Andong, Gyeongsangbuk-do. The Silleuksa Temple is said to have been built by a great Buddhist monk named Wonhyo during the reign of King Jinpyeong of Silla. This pagoda stands on a rock to add to the beautiful natural backdrop of Hangang River. This six-storied brick pagoda is composed of a two-tiered foundation, three-tiered staircase, multi-storied main body and a capstone. The base and the staircase are made of granite while the main body composed of six tiers is made by piling up bricks. The capstone is sometimes treated as another story. The roof stones, disproportionately thin compared to the main bodies, have double-tiered cornice from the first to the third story and a single-tiered one from the forth to the sixth story, another element that tells of its unusual style. The ornamental top portion is relatively thin. The memorial stone located at the north of the pagoda has an inscription saying that the pagoda was rebuilt in 1726, in the second year of King Yeongjo. Judging from the pattern carved on the bricks, it is assumed to have been built in the early Goryeo Dynasty. If this proves to be true, it could be the only existing brick pagoda from the Goryeo Dynasty. Not much of the overall shape has been changed and marred during the repair works of later days.