Ancient Korean 'Skyscraper' Hwangnyongsa Temple's Sarira Chamber Secrets Revealed

The secrets of the Hwangnyongsa Temple's nine-story wooden pagoda, once the tallest structure on the Korean Peninsula, have been revealed after 1,200 years. Researchers discovered that the sarira (relic) chamber beneath the pagoda was entirely lined with gilt-bronze plates, transforming the space into a massive reliquary.

Further analysis of the "Hwangnyongsa Chalju Bon Gi," a record of the pagoda's 872 A.D. renovation, has yielded new inscriptions. The inner lid and base fragments of a gilt-bronze sarira box bear the names of artisans like 'Kim Chung' and 'Yeon Chang,' offering a glimpse into the craftsmanship of the Silla period.

The National Gyeongju Museum announced these findings during a press briefing for its special exhibition, "Hwangnyongsa, Housing the Buddha's Sarira." The exhibition showcases restored sarira containers and decorative items from the pagoda's interior.

One of the most striking discoveries is the intricate structure within the sarira chamber. Gilt-bronze plates, each featuring two guardian deities, were affixed to all four inner walls, making the chamber itself a secondary, larger reliquary surrounding the primary sarira container. The museum also confirmed that a treasure mentioned in the "Chalju Bon Gi" as a "geum-eun gojwa" (gold and silver pedestal) used for a glass sarira bottle is, in fact, a small lotus-shaped pedestal.

Additionally, the research identified the "beop sari" (dharmic relics) mentioned in the "Chalju Bon Gi" as two silver plates inscribed with the Buddhist phrase "Je Beop Inyeonsaeng" (All phenomena arise from causes and conditions). These plates were found within an octagonal, building-shaped sarira container unearthed at the pagoda site.

Debates surrounding a gilt-bronze sarira container inscribed with the Chinese era name "Zhonghua 3" (1192 A.D.) have also been resolved. Previously, its presence in the pagoda was questioned, but the investigation confirmed that the lid and the main body, recovered after being stolen during a 1960s excavation, are a perfect match. This suggests the container was originally made for another temple and later placed in the Hwangnyongsa pagoda during its renovation.