Five-story Stone Pagoda at Cheonheungsa Temple Site, Cheonan

A pagoda is a symbolic monument enshrining the relics or remains of the Buddha. Although not all pagodas contain the true remains, they are nonetheless worshiped as sacred places that enshrine the Buddha.

This five-story stone pagoda located within Cheonheungsa Temple Site is presumed to date to the early period of the Goryeo dynasty (918-1392) when the temple was established by the royal family. The pagoda, measuring about 5.5 m in height, consists of a two-tier base, five sets of body and roof stones, and part of a decorative top. The bottom tier of the base has carvings of foliate square patterns on each side, while the top tier consists of four stone plates. The body and roof stones were carved from separate stones, with each story becoming smaller in proportion toward the top. The corners of the body stones are carved to look like pillars, while the roof stones extend out horizontally before sharply turning upwards at the eaves. Among the pagodas from the Goryeo period, this pagoda, with its slender yet grand appearance, is an outstanding sculptural work.

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