Sarira Stupa and Monument in Dogap-sa Temple, Korea

It was strange that I could not see the Sarira stupas by the road to the temple.
In Korean Temple, the Sarira stupas of the great monks were located by the entrance area of the temple.

I could find the Sarira pagodas at the behind of the temple, as passing through the temple.
It seemed unusual case in Korean temple design.

The gate to the Sarira area was closed, so I had to photography over the wall of the Sarira area.
The style of the Sarira pagoda in Dogap-sa temple was quite different from those of others.

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The common style of the Sarira pagoda in Korea is similar to Buddhist bell. But I could not see those Buddhist bell style of the sarira stupa in this temple.

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By the way, the sarira stupas were not so big though, all of the sarira stupas were very well balanced and harmonized each other.

There was the big monument next to the Sarira stupas. This monument was the record of the 2 great monks in this temple.

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The appearance of this monument was magnificent.
The impressive part of the monument was the turtle shape of the cornerstone.

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Why did they build the Sarira stupa and the monument the innermost side of the temple ?
Even though there were plenty of places to set up those monument and the stupas at the entrance of the temple.
I guess they thought those things the most important heritage of the temple.

But if you don’t know this fact on the location, it is not easy to get there.
In my thought the core of Dogap-sa temple was the stupa area and the monument.

I recommend visiting there in the evening before they close the gate.
Then pale sunlight and proper shadow would give you a perfect condition for looking around there.

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