Ten-Story Stone Pagoda of Wongaksa Temple Site, Seoul

A must visit site in South Korea

Wongaksa Pagoda, one of the National Treasure in South Korea

Wongaksa Pagoda is a twelve metre high ten-storey marble pagoda in South Korea, once on the grounds of the Gyeongbokgung palace but now held at Seoul's Tapgol (Pagoda) Park (탑골 공원) in a protective glass case. The Korean name literally means "ten storeyed stone pagoda of Wongaksa Temple site." 

The pagoda is considered by art historians to be one of the finest examples of Joseon dynasty pagoda art. It was originally on the grounds of the now-lost Wongaksa Temple and is the only surviving stone pagoda of the Joseon period. The pagoda was designated as the second national treasure of Korea on December 12, 1962. From an inscription on the upper part of the pagoda it is known that the pagoda was built in 1467, the thirteenth year of King Sejo's reign. 

It is one of the few pagodas made from marble in Korea. Typical Korean pagodas are made from granite, a material abundant on the peninsula. The pedestal supporting the pagoda is three-tiered, and its shape seen from the top looks like a Chinese character, 亞. The first three storeys of the pagoda follow the shape of the base and the next seven storeys are shaped in form of squares. Dragons, lions, lotus flowers, phoenixes, Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and the Four Heavenly Kings carved on each storey of the pagoda. The pagoda, while made of stone, is carved to look like it was made from wood. The pagoda has brackets, pillars, and curved roof shapes that imitate a wooden pagoda design. 

The pagoda is similar to the Gyeongcheonsa Pagoda, which was made during the Goryeo Era and is now housed at the National Museum of Korea.

Check out how it looks like

Can you see the Monkey God and all figure?

 Impressive right?