A stupa is a structure based on the Sarira faith after Sakyamuni rose into nirvana. Korea has made its own stone stupa, which differ from brick stupa of China or wooden stupa of Japan. The Shilla kingdom had stone stupa cultur based on Buddhism. Stone...
A stupa is a structure based on the Sarira faith after Sakyamuni rose into nirvana. Korea has made its own stone stupa, which differ from brick stupa of China or wooden stupa of Japan. The Shilla kingdom had stone stupa cultur based on Buddhism. Stone stupa of Silla developed in Gyeongju area and spread over the nation in the late Silla danasty. The pattern richly varied from standard type of stone stupa.
The Mt. Gaya district in Gyeongsang-do has numerous Silla stupa. Mt. Gaya, has many temples practicing ‘Hwaum Thought’. The temples were built prior to introduction of Buddhism into this area. Based on ‘Hwaum Thought’ settled Standard style stone stupa with new element occur new style.
Mt. Gaya stone stupa influenced other regional stone stupa in style. Mt. Gaya stone stupa can be classified into 3 stages.
1st stage of stone stupa in Mid-late of 8th Century settlement. Examples are: Gyeongsangbuk-do seongju Bowoldong three storied stone stupa, Wolgwangsaji three storied stone stupa on the Wolgwangsa Temple site and the Simwonsa three storied stone stupa.
During the 2nd stage in early-mid 9th century slight change soccurin patterns from standard type of stone stupa. Examples are Haeinsa three storied stone stupa, boebsusaji three storied stone stupa and Stone lantern of Cheongnyangsa Temple.
Stone stupa during the 3rd stage in the late 9thcentury, examples are East Wolgwangsaji stone stupa, Haeinsa Gilsang stone stupa of Haeinsa Temple and Wondangam blue stone stupa.
In addition to the stone stupa mentioned above there is more proof unreported to the academic world, evidence of many stone stupa exists at Mt. Gaya.
Nine stupas in the Mt Gaya district have defined a regional style.
First, the standard stone stupa: Bowoldong three storied stone stupa, West Wolgwangsaji stone stupa has built in Gyeongsang-do area. The Form of stylobate stone stupa was influenced standard stone stupa of Silla.
After time the Mt. Gaya stone stupas were influenced by local styles. With Haeinsa the Form of the Triple Stylobate Stone Stupa and Cheongnyangsa an earthen platform was born of the stylobate stone stupa of Silla. This is role of platform by Dhararni sutra(??無垢淨光大陀羅尼經??) of Jotapgyeong and contribute to changed detail with emphasize rising.
During that time Ansang was usually engraved on the upper stylobate but for the first time, the Boebsusaji three storied stone stupa had an engraved 3 part Ansang on the lower stylobate. This trend spread across the country during the Koryo dynasty. Including East and West three storied stone stupas of wolgwangsaji, has different style between twin stupa in Silla and Koryo. In 895 AD Haeinsa-Gilsang stupa memorializing deceased nobles, warrior monks and everyman were constructed. As the times changed Stylobate of Mt. Gaya stupas changed in construction “unit and number of unit”. At 1st stage, there are 16pcs of unit on sytlobate. During the 2nd stage the number of unit dropped to 8pcs of unit. And 3rd stage in late 9th century with the Haeinsa Gilsang-stupa set to 2pcs of upper and lower stylobate skipped “Unit” drastically. This be came a model of miniaturizations tone stupa later on Koryo hit small stupa trend.
During the late Silla period the Mt. Gaya area developed a different new style of stone stupa “Wondangam multi storied blue stone stupa”. A clay-slate stone that allowed more detail replaced granite and the trend spread over the country.
Leading stone stupa in the Mt. Gaya area influenced construction of Silla stone stupa nationally and later built in Koryo with local style.