English: Bulguksa Dabotap. National Treasure No. 20. Location: 15-1,
Jinhyeon-dong,
Gyeongju-si,
Gyeongsangbuk-do.
The description on the sign next to the pagoda says:
"This stone
pagoda built during the
Unified Silla period is different from other stone pagodas in terms of its structure. The 10.34m-tall pagoda's official name is "Dabo Yeorae Sangju Jeungmyeongtap". This name is derived from the Beophwagyeong (Saddharmapundarika sutra) in whom Dabo Yeorae(Prabhutaratna-tathagata) is always verifying the truth of Seokga Yeorae(Sakyamuni). The same structure as this pagoda is not seen in other
Buddhist countries. The pagoda is supposed to have been built in 751, the 10th year of Silla King
Gyeongdeok. The pagoda has four stairways flanking the four sides of the pagoda's base. Four square corner pillars set up on the cover stone for the base have the crossing stone pedestal supporting the stone roof. On top of the stairway, a stone lion sits on its hunch. It is believed that there were four lions in four directions. There is a stone square railing on the roof. Inside the railing, the body of the pagoda is constructed, and above the body there is an octagonal stone railing. Again inside the octagonal stone railing, eight bamboo-shaped stone pillars support the octagonal-shaped lotus stone carved with sixteen lotus pedals. Above the stone lotus, eight stone pillars support the octagonal stone roof with the finial."