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 mind with the spirit of loving cultural properities, the Ministry of Communications has selected 10 outstanding items of stone pagoda, designated as national treasures , as 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 fourth of the series. 1. Ten­storeyed Stone Pagoda of Kyongchon­sa Temple: National Treasure No.86, this marble pagoda, built in 1348 toward the end of the Koryo Dynasty, stands 13.5m high. It was illegally taken away to Tokyo, Japan, from the site of Kyongch`on­sa Temple located in Kaepoong­gun(country), Kyong­gi­do Province, toward the end of Imperial Korea. It was returned to Korea later and has been preserved at the gallery of Kyungbok Palace during the Japanese rule of Korea. The base is composed of three stages in the shape of 亞. The first three stories are of the same shape as the base stages, while the upper seven stories are of the square form. It is minutely patterned after wooden structure, and inscription is made on all surfaces of the pagoda, including the railing of the base. 2. Nine­storeyed Octagonal Stone Pagoda at Wolchong­sa Temple: National Treasure No.48, this pagoda is typical of multiangular and multi­storeyed stone towers built in the early period of the Koryo Dynasty(11th?12th centuries), measuring 15.2m in height. Located at Wolchong­sa Temple, Pyongch`ang­gun,Gangwon­do Province, it is set upon a pedestal consisting of a downturned lotus and two tiers of unadorned plaques. The main body of the pagoda becomes smaller as it goes up, giving a sense of stability.`