This refers to a pagoda containing the relics of Dabo Yeorae. Dabo Pagoda, also known as ''pagoda of many treasures'', is located in the temple of

Bulguksa Bulguksa is located on the slopes of Mount Toham (Jinheon-dong, Gyeongju city, North Gyeongsang province, South Korea). It is a head temple of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism and encompasses six National treasures of South Korea, including the ...

Gyeongju Gyeongju ( ko, 경주, ), historically known as ''Seorabeol'' ( ko, 서라벌, ), is a coastal city in the far southeastern corner of North Gyeongsang Province in South Korea. It is the second largest city by area in the province after Andong, ...

South Korea South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and sharing a Korean Demilitarized Zone, land border with North Korea. Its western border is formed ...

. From entering the temple through the Cheongun and Baegun Bridge, Dabotap is located on the right side, opposing

Seokgatap Seokgatap (Sakyamuni Pagoda) is a stone pagoda in South Korea designated as the 21st National treasures of South Korea, National Treasure on December 12, 1962. Its full name is ''Sakyamuni Yeoraesangjuseolbeop Tap'', and is sometimes referred to ...

on the left side. The pagoda is supposed to have been built in 751, the 10th year of the Shilla king Gyeongdeok. It is currently designated as

National Treasure The idea of national treasure, like national epics and national anthems, is part of the language of romantic nationalism, which arose in the late 18th century and 19th centuries. Nationalism is an ideology that supports the nation as the fundame ...

no. 20. The 3 story pagoda stands 10.29 metres tall and was built in an ornate style not seen in other Buddhist countries. The sculpture techniques used are unique for its time and include delicate features. It has a staircase on each of the four sides. Four stone square pillars support the pagoda's first roof, where is built a square stone railing. Inside the railing is the body of the pagoda, and above it, standing on the second octagonal-shaped roof surrounded by an octagonal stone railing, are eight bamboo-shaped stone pillars support the octagonal-shaped lotus stone carved with sixteen petals. Above it eight stone pillars support the third octagonal-shaped roof. Of the four stone lions guarding the top of the staircases only one remain. A second one is located at the

British Museum The British Museum is a public museum dedicated to human history, art and culture located in the Bloomsbury area of London. Its permanent collection of eight million works is among the largest and most comprehensive in existence. It docum ...

in London. As for the whereabouts of the other two, they are still unknown. The pagoda was dismantled by the Japanese in the 1920s but there is no evidence of any relics found in the pagoda. The pagoda is currently depicted on the obverse of the 10 won coin.

Dabotap and Seokgatap

The two pagodas reflect a story in the Lotus sutra. Dabo (

Prabhutaratna Prabhūtaratna ( Skt: प्रभूतरत्न; Traditional Chinese: 多寶如来 or 多寶佛; Simplified Chinese: 多宝如来 or 多宝佛; pinyin: ''Duōbǎo Rúlái'' or ''Duōbǎo Fó''; Japanese romaji: ''Tahō Nyorai'' or ''Tahō Bu ...

), a Buddha who had already achieved enlightenment, riding the Tower of Many Treasures, appeared to attest to the validity of Sakyamuni's sermons at Vulture Peak. Dabo and Sakyamuni then sat side by side within the tower. This pagoda represents the Dabo Buddha, while the other pagoda represents Sakyamuni. Dabo represents the objective truth, while Sakyamuni represents the subjective wisdom to realize it. Dabotap is highly decorative and looks feminine, whereas Seokgatap is highly simplified and looks more masculine. The sophisticated Dabotap symbolizes the complexity of the world; the simple Seokgatap represents the brevity of spiritual ascent. (from Fascinating Tales of Blooming Silla by Alexander Chang and Andrew Chang, 2006).

Gallery

Image:Bulguksa 3.jpg, A larger image of the pagoda. File:Korea-Gyeongju-Bulguksa-24.jpg, Image:184 불국사 다보탑.jpg, Dabotap. File:Korea-Gyeongju-Bulguksa-Dabotap Pagoda-01.jpg

References

* On-site stele *

External links

Essence of Shilla Buddhism in Stone
{{coord, 35.7900, N, 129.3322, E, source:wikidata-and-enwiki-cat-tree_region:KR, display=title Korean pagodas Stone pagodas National Treasures of South Korea Pagodas in South Korea Buildings and structures in Gyeongju Tourist attractions in Gyeongju Silla