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Heungboksa Temple Seven-Tier Pagoda
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Heungboksa Temple Seven-Tier Pagoda
NORTH KOREA, Pyongyang
The seven-tier hexagonal stone pagoda was originally located within Heungboksa (Vast Merit Temple) in the Pyeongchon neighborhood of Pyongyang, but it is currently situated in front of Yonghwasa (Dragon Flower Temple) in the Moranbong neighborhood of Pyongyang after several relocations. The pagoda was built in the Goryeo dynasty (918-1392) and its symmetry and delicate carvings constitute a fine example among polygonal pagodas of that dynasty. It is listed as National Treasure No. 24.
The seven-tier pagoda is 5.4 m high and consists of a base, body, and spire. Each face on each tier of the pagoda body has a shallow niche with a Buddha image. The images are identical on the first three tiers but varied on the remaining tiers. The spire consists of an upright lotus and a lotus bud. Although Buddha images are commonly sculpted on stone pagodas from the Goryeo dynasty, they are rarely seen on polygonal pagodas such as this one. |
