VISIT JEJU

Jonjaam Hermitage was designated as Jejudo Tangible Cultural Heritage 17 on November 1st, 2000. Sakyamuni Stupa is located within Jonjaam Hermitage Site. According to the Jonjaamgi written by Chungam Kim Jeong, it argued the temple was first built when the Go, Yang, Bu Samseong (three families: Go, Bu, and Yang) were founded. Lee Gyeong-eok, who was the Amhaengeosa (secret royal investigator) during King Hyojong’s reign, once said in 1650 (the 2nd year of King Hyojong’s reign) that the thousand-year-old pagoda stands here alone. The pagoda known as Sakyamuni Stupa is made out of basalt, the most common rock in Jeju. After the ground was hardened by ramming, the body of the Sakyamuni Stupa was put on an octagonal foundation on the ground. The same stone type used for the pagoda’s body was also used for the pagoda’s roof. In Buddhist construction, the body of Sakyamuni Stupa is defined as Seokjonghyeong (a bell-shaped body). The top and bottom of the pagoda are flat whereas the body shows a nicely chiseled curve. Although the bottom of the pagoda’s roof is flat, the left and right side surfaces are edgeless and soft-curved. A marble-looking stone is on the very top of the roof, which makes the pagoda look more elegant and unique because no other pagoda in Korea that uses the same stone type for the roof and body has been discovered. The octagonal stone that serves as a foundation of the pagoda is a typical “Stupa” style. The construction style suggests that the pagoda was built around the end of Goryeo or the beginning of Joseon Dynasty.