The appearance of stupas dates back to the Three- kingdoms period according to historical records, but the works to be were made from the middle 9th century, Yomˇgoˇ-Hwasang Tower dated in 844 is assumed to be the oldest stupa work in Korea. It is a...
The appearance of stupas dates back to the Three- kingdoms period according to historical records, but the works to be were made from the middle 9th century, Yomˇgoˇ-Hwasang Tower dated in 844 is assumed to be the oldest stupa work in Korea. It is a round octahedron, whose style was followed in the works of the following periods. The Silla and Koryoˇ periods produced excellent works and styles of stupa art encouraged by the prosperity of Buddhism. But during the Chosoˇn dynasty, stupa art gradually declined owing to the suppression of Buddhism. The remaining stupa works of the Shilla period, clearly datable, are 8:Yoˇmgoˇ- Hwasang Tower, Choˇgin - Soˇnsa Tower, Choˇlgam - Soˇnsa Tower, Bojo-Soˇnsa Tower, Chijuˇng - Daesa Tower, Chuˇnggak - Daesa Tower, Suchoˇl - Hwasang Tower, and Ching-yoˇng - Daesa Tower.
The method of expression reached its climax in the Koryoˇ period. Representative works include the Yidae stupa (collection of Ewha Women's Univ.), Kap Temple stupa, and Wonjong - Daesa -Hyejin Tower at Ko dal Temple. The works mentioned above belong to the initial stage of the Koryoˇ period. Politically, this period was a period of agitation in which Koryoˇ developed and the style of stupa work reached its climax. In the latter part of Koryoˇ, the stupa style seemed to favor length because of the long of towers. This style was succeeded by that of the Chosoˇn dynasty.
Even though Buddhism was generally suppressed throughout the Chosoˇn dynasty, a few kings protected Buddhism. Therefore, Buddhist temples could be sustained through the hard times. Many stupa works by Buddhist priests exist in Buddhist temples at present. The turning point of the Imjinoaeran, marks a turning point in the Chosoˇn dynasty style. The works of the former period followed the style of Koryoˇ and yielded relatively excellent works. Furthermore it produced a new style, 'Oval tower'. This type of stupa includes Hakjojoˇnnggok-Hwasang Tower, and Hoiamsaji stupa.
In the latter period, the style found in Shilla and Koryoˇ became decadent and childish, and examples of this decadent stupa work of the latter part of the Chasoˇn dynasty are placed in Taehuˇng Temple. Particularly, the stupa of Choˇnghoˇdang, Soˇsan-Daesa(the great priest), which contains such non-Buddhistic elements as a crab and a frog, explains quite well the latter Chosoˇn dynasty's settled stupa. Fifty five stupa works are placed at Taehuˇng Temple area.
Finally, a scrutinizing study was made of the Choˇnghoˇdang, Soˇsan - Daesa stupas.