Abstract

The five-story stone pagoda in Jukjang-ri, Gumi, is the tallest one of its kind in Korea. In literature, it is recorded as a part of Jukjangsa Temple. According to the analysis of the roof tiles and bricks from the Unified Silla Dynasty, excavated in the drain inside the precincts of Jukjangsa Temple, the excavation of roof tiles similar to the lotus-patterned convex tiles of Sui and Tang Dynasties of China, excavated in Gyeongju area which used to be the royal capital of Silla, indicates that the temple was established at the end of the seventh century (before A.D.679), close to this period. It indicates that Jukjangsa Temple was built earlier, considering the early Buddhist remains located in the Seonsan area where Ilseon-gun (county) was. Also, the anthemion-patterned brick (唐草文塼) associated with the pagoda hints the possibility that a brick pagoda could have existed before the construction of the five-story stone pagoda and that the brick pagoda existed in the middle of the current precincts when the temple was established and demolished or moved when the five-story stone pagoda was constructed during the reconstruction of the temple. The five-story stone pagoda is estimated to have been constructed before the mid-eighth century based on the fact that it is biased toward the east in the current precincts of Jukjangsa Temple estimates. Also, its bias toward the east bears comparison with the layout of Jureuksa Temple which is located in the same region. It could have been an inevitable choice due to the limited space within the precincts, however, could be the evidence of distinction between the main building and the five-story stone pagoda. The layout of Jukjangsa Temple in Gumi can be estimated through the cases of Goseonsa Temple site in Gyeongju and Changnimsa Temple site in Namsan Mountain in Gyeongju. It is very likely that it was built the earlist among the temples constructed within Ilseon-gun.

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