b) Pagodas


Today, most famous Korean pagodas are made of stone. But originally, pagodas were made of wood, earth, bricks, or other materials.
As far as the records show, the first pagoda to have been constructed was Yukwang-t'ap in Lia Tung in Koguryo. According to the Samguk-yusa the precise date of the construction of this pagoda is unknown. It was made of earth, and consisted of three parts, the top resembled a Korean traditional kettle turned upside down. A king (one record says it was a sage king, but it is not certain who the king was), after finding the earthen pagoda, built a seven-storey wooden pagoda out of devotion.

Another record tells of a stone pagoda at Yongt'ap-sa. A legend says that Master Podok found the pagoda under the ground following the instructions of a supernatural being. It had eight sides and seven stories.
Besides these few records, not much else is known about Koguryo pagodas. We do not know how many there were nor do we know their style.
According to Chinese records, Paekje had many temple pago-das. However, specific records of these pagodas are very rare. Among the existing stone pagodas, the oldest in Korea and largest in the east is on the site of Miruk-sa, together with the stupa of Chongnim-sa site, they show us the excellent technique and style of Paekje pagodas. In the making of pagodas in particular, Paekje had many great artists and so they were sent to Shilla.
One particular example is the Paekje artist Abiji who was sent to Shilla to help build the nine-storey, wooden pagoda at Hwangnyong-sa, the oldest, recorded, Shilla pagoda which was finished in 645. It stood 68 m. high and was outstandingly magnificent. The story of the building of this pagoda is recorded in Samguk-yusa. The Diamond Altar (actually made of stone) of T'ongdo-sa, where Master Chajang enshrined the Buddha's relics which he had received from Manjusri, and a pagoda of Taehwa-sa were built at the same time.
Master Cha-jang recommended the building of that first pagoda for the security of the nation. It was thought that such religious actions as the building of a pagoda would protect the nation against disasters and the nine neighboring, hostile countries including Japan and China. Pagodas were held to be lucky and also they were considered as able to "balance" or "mend" "wounds" in the earth. These are unlucky spots recognized by geomancers.
The present pagoda at Punhwang-sa is the oldest brick- shaped, stone pagoda among all those which were built before the unification of the peninsula in 668.