East and West Three-story Stone Pagodas in Seodong-ri, Bonghwa

These twin pagodas are situated in the grounds of Chunyang Middle School in Bonghwa-gun, in what is recognized as the original site of Namhwasa Temple. However, the temple was closed after another temple, Gakhwasa Temple, was established about six kilometers northwest by the Buddhist monk Wonhyo in 675 (16th year of the reign of King Munmu of the Silla Dynasty).

Each of the pagodas consists of a two-tier stylobate and a three-story main body. All four sides of the corners and centers of both tiers of the stylobate are engraved with pillar patterns. The main body of each pagoda consists of a core stone and a roof stone hewn from one stone each, and tapers sharply upwards. All the edges of each core stone are carved with a pillar pattern. The roof stone has a four-tier cornice and curves slightly upward around the four corners of the eaves. Only the western pagoda still has the base for its finial.

The pagodas were restored in October 1962 as their stylobates were extremely tilted and lay buried underground. During the restoration work, a sarira reliquary was discovered in the west pagoda, while a sarira bottle and ninety-nine miniature earthen pagodas were found in the east pagoda. Assumed to have been built in the late Unified Silla Period, the pagodas ? though not masterpieces - are well proportioned and display a restrained beauty.

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