Skip Navigation

Heritage Search

Treasure

East and West Three-story Stone Pagodas at Sudoam Hermitage of Cheongamsa Temple, Gimcheon

김천 청암사 수도암 동·서 삼층석탑 ( 金泉 靑巖寺 修道庵 東·西 三層石塔 )

Heritage Search Detail
Classification Treasure
Name of Cultural Properties East and West Three-story Stone Pagodas at Sudoam Hermitage of Cheongamsa Temple, Gimcheon
Quantity 2 pagodas
Designated Date 1963.01.21
Age Unified Silla
Address Cheongamsa Temple 1438, Sudo-gil, Jeungsan-myeon, Gimcheon, Gyeongsangbuk-do

These twin pagodas standing side by side to the east and the west of the Daeungjeon Hall, is believed to have been made by Doseon, a Buddhist monk who served as the State Preceptor of Silla (the 3rd year of the reign of King Heonan). Due to the small size of the front year, the pagodas are not far away from the main hall. The east pagoda, standing on a single-story pedestal, has three stories. The side of each pedestal is engraved with a column pattern. What makes this pagoda unique is that its first tier is narrowed to the top. Each side of the first tier is engraved with a seated Bodhisattva inside a rectangular box, while the second and third tiers are engraved with a column pattern on each side. The capstone is thin and broad, while the stone pedestal at the bottom has four steps. The west pagoda is also three-storied, but stands on the two-story pedestal. The second tier of the pagoda is much smaller than the first tier, but the third tier is similar in size with the second tier. A column pattern is engraved on the edge of the main tier with a seated Bodhisattva engraved between them. Compared to the east pagoda, its capstone is thinner and broader. The pedestal has five steps. These twin pagodas have a couple of unique features that are not found in other pagodas: The first tier of the east pagoda is narrowed to the top and the Bodhisattvas are engraved inside a rectangular box, while the west pagoda has a wider capstone and more space underneath the capstone. The carving skills indicate that these pagodas were built in the middle of the Silla period.