Stele of State Preceptor Wonjin at Bogyeongsa Temple, Pohang

This stele was erected in 1224 to honor the Buddhist monk Seunghyeong (1172-1221), also known as State Preceptor Wonjin.

Born in present-day Sangju, Gyeongsangbuk-do, during the Goryeo period (918-1392), Seunghyeong became a monk at the age of 13. While studying the teachings of the Buddha, he traveled across the country visiting sacred mountains. He believed that the Sutra of the Heroic One (Shurangama Sutra) was of paramount importance in Buddhist worship practices. In 1215, he was appointed by King Gojong (r. 1213-1259) as the chief monk of Bogyeongsa Temple and oversaw its large-scale expansion. Upon Seunghyeong’s death, King Gojong bestowed upon him the posthumous name Wonjin and granted him the honorary title of state preceptor, which was the highest rank given to a Buddhist monk.

The stele consists of a tortoise-shaped pedestal and a body stone. The two upper corners of the body stone are cut diagonally, which was a popular design during the Goryeo period. The decorative vine designs carved along the edge of the body stone are characteristic of the steles made from the mid-Goryeo period and later.

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