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영어

It is said that Simgoksa Temple, situated at the foot of Mireuksan Mountain in Nangsan-myeon, Iksan, was founded by the Buddhist monk Muyeom (801~888) during the reign of King Munseong (r. 839~857) of Unified Silla, although there is no material evidence to support this claim. The name Simgoksa appears in the section on Buddhist temples located in Yeosan-gun (one of the areas integrated into Iksan-gun) in Sinjeungdonggukyeojiseungram (Revised and Augumented Survey of the Geography of Korea), which was compiled in 1481, thereby confirming that it was founded prior to 1481. However, Beomugo [a journal on Buddhist temples compiled in 1799 (the 23rd year of King Jeongjo’s reign)] states that Simgokam Hermitage, which used to be located in Mireuksan, had disappeared by that time, while Honam Eupji (a journal on the history of Honam) compiled around 1872 states that Simgoksa Temple was located about 4km west of the eup (town). Thus, it is presumed that the temple was closed at an earlier date and then renovated sometime between the early and mid-19th century, i.e. between the compilation of Beomugo and the compilation of Honam Eupji. The white porcelain jar, Gilt-bronze Standing Buddha, seven Gilt-bronze Buddhas, and Miniature Shrine found in two rectangular holes in the Seven-story Stone Pagoda at Simgoksa Temple (Jeollabuk-do Tangible Cultural Heritage No. 192) in the course of dismantlement and renovation work conducted in June 2012 became the center of attention. This paper aims to shed light on the features of the objects unearthed from the stone pagoda and determine how and when the pagoda was built in an effort to reconstruct the history associated with the temple. The two Gilt-bronze Standing Buddhas dating from the early 10th century appear to be the oldest such statues discovered at the stone pagoda. The next oldest object is the Gilt-bronze Amitabha Buddha Triad, which dates from the late 14th century or earlier. The Miniature Shrine and the four Gilt-bronze Buddhas appear to have been made in the mid-15th century or later, compared to other miniature shrines made toward the end of the Goryeo Period (918-1392) or the early Joseon Period (1392-1910) and the Bodhisattva with an inscription of its year of production. It is presumed that the sarira reliquary made of white porcelain was made in the 19th century or later based on the way the reliquaries were enshrined and its shape. The Gilt-bronze Standing Buddha and the seven Gilt-bronze Seated Buddhas are presumed to have been associated with the reliquaries.