Stele of Bongseon Honggyeongsa, Stone memorial stele at Seonghwan-eup, Cheonan, South Korea.
The Stele of Bongseon Honggyeongsa is a stone memorial that sits on a turtle-shaped base carved with dragon head details. The upper portion features a rounded roof topped with cloud-pattern decorations characteristic of this type of monument.
This monument was erected in 1026 to mark the completion of Bongseon Honggyeongsa Temple, which King Hyeonjong commissioned as a tribute to his father. The stele documents a significant moment in the temple's founding and the royal patronage that supported it.
The inscription records the temple's founding and reflects the scholarly traditions of the time through its careful calligraphy. Visitors can see how this stone monument served as a public record of important religious and cultural events in the community.
This stele is located in Seonghwan-eup in Cheonan and remains open to visitors. Since it stands outdoors, you can view it at any time, though clear weather provides the best light for seeing the carved details clearly.
The dragon head carvings on the pedestal face sideways rather than forward, reflecting an uncommon design choice in monument construction. This distinctive positioning reveals regional variations in how East Asian stonework was created during this period.
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