Stories of Korea’s National Treasures 58
Photo Credit : Cultural Heritage Administration of Korea
Stupa of Buddhist Monk Cheolgam at Ssangbongsa Temple
(Hwasun, Jeollanam-do)
🏯 1. A Stone Memorial to a Zen Master
At the former site of Ssangbongsa Temple in Hwasun, stands the Stupa of Cheolgam Seonsa — a quiet stone monument dedicated to one of the most respected Zen masters of Late Unified Silla (9th century).
Cheolgam Seonsa (鐵鑑禪師) was a prominent figure in the development of Korean Seon (Zen) Buddhism, remembered for his strict discipline, deep insight, and uncompromising pursuit of awakening.
This stupa marks the completion of a life devoted not to recognition, but to realization.
Unlike grand pagodas meant for worship, this stupa exists for remembrance —
a place where silence preserves wisdom.
🪨 2. Form and Sculptural Discipline
The stupa displays a refined multi-part structure characteristic of high Silla monk stupas:
a square stone base,
an octagonal main body,
and a rounded upper dome crowned with a finial.
Each surface is carved with restraint.
Decorative elements are minimal, emphasizing clarity, proportion, and balance rather than ornament.
The octagonal body reflects the Eightfold Path, while the steady vertical rise symbolizes the monk’s unwavering practice.
Carved from finely dressed granite, the stupa reveals the Silla artisans’ mastery of stone —
where technical precision serves spiritual meaning.
Here, form does not compete with message; it embodies it.
🌄 3. The Spirit of Cheolgam Seonsa
Cheolgam Seonsa taught that enlightenment could not be borrowed from texts or teachers —
it had to be realized through direct experience and disciplined practice.
The simplicity of his stupa reflects this philosophy perfectly.
There is no excess, no display — only stillness.
Standing before it, one senses that this monument does not commemorate achievement,
but completion —
the quiet ending of a path fully walked.
Surrounded by the gentle landscape of Hwasun, the stupa seems inseparable from nature,
as if the earth itself had chosen to remember him in stone.
🌿 4. Preservation and Legacy
Despite the disappearance of much of Ssangbongsa Temple over time,
the Stupa of Cheolgam Seonsa remains remarkably well preserved, retaining its original form and dignity.
Designated National Treasure No. 58, it is regarded as one of the finest examples of Unified Silla Zen monk stupas,
offering invaluable insight into Buddhist funerary art and the spiritual ideals of the period.
Today, it stands without crowd or ceremony —
teaching by presence alone that true awakening leaves no trace, yet nothing is lost.
💬 5. A Warm Reflection
“This stupa speaks without voice.
It remembers a life that sought no monument,
yet became one —
not through stone,
but through the stillness it left behind.”
📌 Notice
The National Treasure number indicates the order of designation, not a ranking of value.
For more information, please visit the 👉 National Heritage Portal.