North Stupa of Seonamsa Temple, Suncheon

A stupa is a structure built to enshrine the relics or cremated remains of an eminent Buddhist monk. It is usually accompanied by a stele that commemorates the monk's life and achievements.

This stupa, located at the former site of Seonjoam Hermitage within Seonamsa Temple, is characteristic of the early period of the Goryeo dynasty (918-1392), as seen in its sculptural technique and overall form. It is unknown to whom the stupa belongs as its stele no longer remains. It is presumed to be the earliest of Seonamsa Temple's three early Goryeo-period stupas, which are said to collectively help suppress the energy of the terrain according to Korean feng shui principles.

The octagonal stupa consists of a three-tier base, a body stone, a roof stone, and a decorative top. The lower, middle, and upper tiers of the base are decorated with images, floral designs, and lotus designs, respectively.

The body stone's eastern and western faces are decorated with images of doors with locks and handles, with two wrathful guardians flanking the east-eon. The roof stone has gently curved eaves, while the decorative top features lotus and cloud design.

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