1. Iksan Mireuksaji Stone Pagoda (Iksan Mireuksaji Seoktop)

2. History and Characteristics

3. Structure

4. Restoration

5. Excavation

6. References

Iksan Mireuksaji Stone Pagoda (Iksan Mireuksaji Seoktop)

This stone pagoda, which was built in 639 during the reign of King Mu^[3] is called the primitive style(始原形式) of Baekje pagoda, and in many ways it is the starting point of the entire pagoda in Korea^[3]. At the time of dismantling, the height is 14.2m, which is the largest stone pagoda in Korea, originally estimated to be 9 stories. This stone pagoda embodies the wooden building with stone and shows the appearance of Baekje wooden pagoda.^[3][4]

History and Characteristics

In 639, the site of Mireuksa was built during the late Baekje. It is the oldest and largest remaining stone pagoda in Korea. It is an important cultural property that faithfully shows the process of transition from wooden tower to stone pagoda.^[5][2]

This stone pagoda is called the primitive style of Baekje Stone Pagoda. In many ways, it is considered to be the starting point of the whole Korean pagoda.

This stone pagoda with granite is unlike the Silla style pagoda of Silla style pagoda. It is a pile of multi-storied pagoda of three sides in the base of a square partitioned by a gravel stone.^[5][2]

Most of the western side and the southern side, and about half of the northern side are collapsed, and the number of floors is only up to 6th floor. Currently, maintenance and maintenance are in progress.^[6] The restoration of the Mireuksa Temple was completed in 1991 under the supervision of the Cultural Properties Bureau at the time of the Roh Tae Woo administration. It was once claimed to be on the 7th floor, but during the restoration, a supplementary material was found to indicate that the tower was a 9th floor.^[6][2]

Structure

The stone pagoda of Mireuksaji was the lower one as the wooden pagoda. The top of the temple was divided into three spaces on each side of the first floor, and a door was made in the middle of the room. Inside the center is a huge square pillar. On the first floor, four corners of the body were erected. It is followed by a double-sided technique of wooden architecture with a narrow top and bottom and a convex center. On the pillars, it was also installed in the shape of square and spear, which is the material that connects pillars and pillars in wooden architecture. The roof slope is thin and wide, and it is raised up to four corners and raised slightly. From the second floor, the top becomes shallow, the expression of each part is simplified, and the roof is also reduced in width than the first floor.^[5][2]

Restoration

In 1915, it was repaired with cement to prevent the collapse of the tower during Japanese colonial period. However, in April 1994, the government decided to repair the damaged part because it was not beautiful and there was a risk of collapse.^[5][7]

The repair work for Mireuksaji stone pagoda was planned to be completed in 2007. However, due to the fact that it is the largest stone pagoda in East Asia and it is a national treasure, the schedule was delayed and delayed until 2017.^[9][7]

The Cultural Heritage Administration will restore the first and second floors completely symmetrically, and restructure the third and sixth floors before the dismantling. Members of local governments and some experts argue that the tower must be fully symmetrically restored to the fifth floor to prevent its retention and collapse.^[10][11]

Excavation

On January 14, 2009, the National Cultural Properties Research Institute of the Cultural Heritage Administration rehabilitated and restored the stone pagoda of Mireuksa Temple in Iksan. At that time, he found a martial art in the center of the upper surface of the pillar, named Sarijangum(舍利莊嚴).^[7][2][12]

They found a small bottle with a height of 13cm and a shoulder width of 7.7cm. As a result of inspecting the inside with X-ray, it was confirmed that it is composed of a double structure of inner and outer box. The variety of patterns and handwork techniques on the surface of Sariho show the excellence of Baekje Metal Craft.^[7][2][12]

They also found the golden Sari-bonganki. The Sari-bonganki was engraved on the gold plate of 15.5cm in width and 10.5cm in height and painted red to make it clearly visible. It is written that Queen Baekje donated riches and founded a temple and prayed for the good of the royal family by sealing the Sari in the year of 639. It is evaluated as a precious stone statue material which can complement the lack of research of literature by precisely establishing the purpose of the founding of Mireuksa, It was more notable that there was a difference from the record of Samguk-Yusa, in which the Queen was recorded as the daughter of "Sa", one of the eight nobles of Baekje, and that Princess Sunwha had created Mireuksa Temple.^[13][2][12]

References

• Anoka Primrose Abeyrathne
• Anoka School District
• Anoka Soil and Water Conservation District
• Anokha Daan
• Anokha Laadla (season 3)
• Anokha Pyar
• Anokha Pyar (1948 film)
• Anokhelal Mishra
• Anokhi Ada (1948 film)
• Anokhin Museum
• Anokhin (surname)
• Ano Klines
• Ano Koufonisi
• Anol
• Anola, Manitoba
• Anolbanolis
• Anolbanolis banalis
• Anolbanolis geminus
• An Old-Fashioned Young Man
• An Old-Fashioned Young Man (1917 film)
• An Old Jew
• An Old Landmark Re-Set
• An Old Love
• An Old Love (1959 film)
• An Old Man and His Grandson