Four Lion Three-story Stone Pagoda in Gwaeseok-ri, Hongcheon

This 3.5m-high pagoda has a three-story body supported by a base consisting of lion sculptures in the four corners. It was moved to its present location is 1969 from its original location in Gwaeseok-ri, Duchon-myeon, Hongcheon. Each face of the base features carved elephant-eye motifs, while each corner of the upper tier of the base features a stone lion sculpture. The capstone on top has a lotus flower carved in the center. The lions are depicted sitting with their front legs raised and are interesting for their details such as the round ornaments on their chests and heart-shaped tails. It is assumed that stone bodhisattva image stood in the middle of the four stone lions.

The first story of the body consists of a separate body stone and roof stone, but from the second story the body stone and roof stone are carved from a single piece of stone.

The roof stones have straight eaves and a hole in each corner from which wind chimes would have been hung. Of the finial, only the base remains and a hole for the central pillar.

This stone pagoda, presumed to date to the early half of the Goryeo period, is an important relic showing succession of the Unified Silla pagoda type featuring four carved lions.

Source: Korea Heritage Service signboard ↗ · collected 2026-10-08