WONGAKSA PAGODA
Wongaksa Pagoda is a twelve meter high ten-story marble pagoda in South Korea, once on the grounds of theGyeongbokgung palace but now held at Seoul's Tapgol (Pagoda) Park (탑골 공원) in a protective glass case. TheKorean name literally means "ten storied stone pagoda of Wongaksa Temple site."
The pagoda is considered by art historians to be one of the finest examples of Joseon dynasty pagoda art. It was originally on the grounds of the now-lost Wongaksa Temple and is the only surviving stone pagoda of the Joseon period. The pagoda was designated as the second national treasure of Korea on December 12, 1962. From an inscription on the upper part of the pagoda it is known that the pagoda was built in 1467, the thirteenth year of King Sejo's reign.
It is one of the few pagodas made from marble in Korea. Typical Korean pagodas are made from granite, a material abundant on the peninsula. The pedestal supporting the pagoda is three-tiered, and its shape seen from the top looks like a Chinese character. The first three stories of the pagoda follow the shape of the base and the next seven stories are shaped in form of squares. Dragons, lions, lotus flowers, phoenixes, Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and the Four Heavenly Kings carved on each story of the pagoda. The pagoda, while made of stone, is carved to look like it was made from wood. The pagoda has brackets, pillars, and curved roof shapes that imitate a wooden pagoda design.
The pagoda is similar to the Gyeongcheonsa Pagoda, which was made during the Goryeo Era and is now housed at the National Museum of Korea.
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