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Introduce
Numerous topics related to Korean culture and art are mentioned in middle and high school national history textbooks, but most of them are briefly described by era, making it difficult to understand their concepts, transition processes, and characteristics.
<Culture & Art Stories from Korean History> produces and provides video materials based on expert commentary on the flow, change process, characteristics and characteristics of each major topic in the field of culture and art in Korean history.
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Scenario

The object of worship by kings, nobles and commoners
Pagodas, the reliquary of the sarira from Buddha’s body!
ncient Koreans sought Buddha by worshipping at pagodas.

The Stone Pagoda, Buddha’s Granite Tomb

The stone pagoda is a tomb, in which the sarira
from Buddha’s body are kept.
It became an important object of faith along with the statue of Buddha.
Stone pagodas originated from India
and came to Korea through China.

Wooden pagodas

Buddhism was introduced in AD 372.
Wooden pagodas were also introduced along with Buddhism.
However, not one wooden pagoda from the Three Kingdoms period
remains due to fire and wars.

Wooden pagodas that were vulnerable to fire
faded into the mist of history
and a new type of pagoda appeared in the early 7th century.

Because of such vulnerability,
it didn’t take long for stone pagodas to replace the wooden ones.

Dolmens that emerged in the Bronze Age
The traces of lots of stones being quarried
in the Three Kingdoms period
and the reason why countless mountain fortresses
are stone fortresses
By the 7th century, the stone-working skill was
at its peak and the people were full of confidence.

Since there are over 200 different types of granites
available all over Korea, it was also easy to  secure a supply.

Pagodas were the objects of worship.
Therefore, they needed to be sacred and eternal.
As long as they were not deliberately destroyed,
stone pagodas could last for centuries.

White granite was perfect as an object of pure worship.
It was also an easy to find material in Korea.

The construction materials changed from wood to stone.
Was there any structural change to the pagoda itself?

What should the stone pagoda look like?
People decided to make it in the same form
as that of wooden pagodas.

The Composition of the Stone Pagoda

Stylobate = Same as the stylobate for wooden structures
2-storied stylobate
Main body of the pagoda = Made up of one block of stone
mplies that there used to be sarira inside
Similar in structure to wooden buildings
Steeple = Roof stone (Similar to the roof)
The bottom of the roof stone, various types of supports were created.
(The curves of Chinese brick pagodas and the wooden structures are expressed in simple lines)

In the 7th century, stone pagodas faithfully
followed the style of wooden pagodas.
The style of wooden pagodas are reproduced in the Stone Pagoda
of Mireuksa Temple Site and the 5-Story Stone Pagoda
at Jeongnimsa Temple Site as well as Baekje-style stone pagodas
that appear in the Goguryeo Dynasty.

Stone Pagodas began appearing in the 7th Century.
What kind of changes did they go through since then?

Period Characteristics Leading stone pagodas and what they stand for
Baekje - The most faithful reproduction of the styles of wooden pagodas
- Period in which Korea earned the title, The Land of Stone Pagodas
- The Stone Pagoda of Mireuksa Temple Site, the first stone pagoda, was built.
The characteristics of the Stone Pagoda of Mireuksa Temple Site
- Built on a low stylobate
- Pillars with pronounced entases erected on the top on 4 sides of the square-shaped foundation stone
-The main body that used to be more than 2 stories are reduced to 2 sections.
- The protruding corners of eaves curves upward.
Silla Style established by wooden pagodas and the Stone Pagoda of Mireuksa Temple Site
- Built a unique stone pagoda culture
- 3-story Stone Pagodas at Gameunsa Temple Site, Gyeongju, Royal Tomb of King Munmu
(East Sea material)
- 3-story Stone Pagodas at Gameunsa Temple Site, Gyeongju
- Stone pagodas from the Standard period
- 2-storied stylobate with upper and lower parts
- Both corner stones are made of different stones while the four walls are made of 1 flatstone.
Unified Silla - Established standard Silla stone pagoda
- Divided between the 8thcenturyand9thcentury
- New style develops in the 9thcentury
8thCenturystonepagoda
- 3-story Stone Pagoda of Bulguksa Temple, Gyeongju
- Shares similarities with standard period stone pagodas
9thCenturystonepagoda
- 115 stone pagodas built all over the country
- Single-story stylobate appears.
- 4-5layered roof stone supports appear.
- Stone pagodas built for wishes such as the welfare of the country and the prosperity of the royal family
Goryeo - King Taejo’s promotion of Buddhism
- Most of the existing stone pagodas were built in this period
- Silla stone pagoda + Local (Goguryeo, Silla, Baekje) characteristics
Stone pagodas for Goryeo
- Goguryeo-type stone pagodas → Octagonal stone pagodas built around Pyongyang
- Baekje-type stone pagodas → In Chungcheong-do Province and Jeolla-do Province
- Goryeo-type stone pagodas → Stone pagodas with characteristics of Goryeo stone pagodas
- Non-typical type stone pagodas
Joseon - Few pagodas were built in the Joseon Dynasty
- Two types exist: General type established in the Unified Silla and Non-typical type
General-type stone pagodas
- Stone pagodas with standardized style seen in 3-story Stone Pagoda of Bulguksa Temple, Gyeongju
Non-typical stone pagoda
- Inherited the styles of the stone pagodas of Unified Silla and Goryeo Dynasties

Reflects the spirit of Buddhism
Important object of faith
Sculptures that show the wisdom and artistry of Korean ancestors
Stone Pagodas!

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Script advisor: Park Gyeong-sik
Scenario composition: Ahn Hyeon-jin, Kim Min-sang
Voice actor: Oh Soo-gyeong
MC: Ju Hye-bin, Hwang Ba-eul
Illustration: Lee Kwang-il
Research material support: National Museum of Korea, Gyeongju National Museum, Cultural Heritage Administration, Hanseong Baekje Museum, E-Museum
Director: Kim Hyeong-woo, Lee Hyeok-roh, Lee Yeon-sik
Planning and Production: Arirang TV Media

Stone Pagodas