Detail

`For the purpose of widely publicizing the traditional culture and wisdom of the people of Korea, at the same time imbuing the people`s minds with the spirit of loving culture protecties, the Ministry of Communications has selected 10 outstanding items of stone pagodas, designated as nationl treasures, as the themes of a series of postage stamps depicting historic stone pagodas to be issued this year on five occasions. The two following pagodas have been chosen for the fifth and last of the series. 1. Thirtten­storeyed Stone Pagoda at the Site of Jeonghye­sa Temple: National Tresure No.40, this pagoda of an extremely unique shape, located in Wolseing­gun(country), Gyeingsang­bugdo Province, stands 5.9 meters high, with the width of its base measuring 2.1 meters. The body of the first story of this pagoda is exceptionally large as compared with that of any other story, with pillars erected on the four corners of the base, thus presenting the pattern of a wooden tower, with each side of the base forming the appearance of a miniature temple. As the bodies of all storied from the second story up are carved out of the same stone material as is used for the roof, with the size of each story decreasing drastically as the pagoda ascends, they look as a whole as if forming a peculiarly large and high decoration at the top of the first story. 2. Three­storeyed Stone Pagoda at the Site of Jinjeon­sa Temple: National Treasure No.122, this stone pagoda, which is a also presumed to have been built during the period of Unified Silla sometime in the 9th century, is licated in gyang­gun (country), Gangwondo Province. It is 5 meters high. Following the general pattern of stone pagodas of the Silla Dynasty, three storied of tower were erected on a two­story base. The sculptural works in relief on all four sides of the bases and bodied of the pagoda are elegant and graceful, worth being counted as a stone pagoda representing the Silla period.`