Stele for Buddhist Monk Nanghye at Seongjusa Temple Site () is a stele located in the Seongjusa temple in Boryeong, South Chungcheong Province, South Korea.Rubbed Copy of the Stele for Buddhist Monk Nanghye National Museum of Korea The stele was designated as National Treasure of South Korea no. 8 in 1962.Stele of Buddhist Monk Nanghye at Seongjusa Temple Site, Boryeong The height of the stele is 4.55m.

History The monk Nanghye was a descendant of King Muyeol of Silla. It was common among nobles to migrate to Tang China to study Buddhism. He finished his studying in China with other princes.The Social-Historical Development of Seon Buddhism in Late Silla: The Museol toron and the Seongju Mountain School, CHUNG, seung-hee, Department of Seon Buddhism, Dongguk University His sect flourished around Seongjusan mountain, and was one of the 9 largest Buddhist sects.

The stele describes the lifetime of Nanghye(낭혜화상), who established Seongju Buddhist sect. The largest monument is a North-South period relic. The inscribed epitaph consists of 5,120 letters, written by Choi Chi-won, the greatest scholar and writer of the time.

Born in the second year of King Aejang (801), Nanghye became a monk at age 10. He traveled to Tang China in 821 (under the reign of King Heongdeok). After 24 years, he became the chief priest of O-hapsa temple in Boryeong.

As his religious works thrived by advocating Chan Buddhism, the king named the temple Seongjusa temple. In 888, he passed away at the age of 89 under the reign of Queen Jinseong. The queen granted him the posthumous name, Nanghye.

The inscripted text expounds the monk’s life journey – one important part is that his family's status was downgraded from jingol (noble rank) to 6th dupum, providing significant data on the Bone-rank system, the aristocratic rank used in ancient Silla. The Change of Golpum 骨品 System in the Late Period of Silla and Its Causes

References

External links Stele for Buddhist Monk Nanghye at Seongjusa Temple Site, Boryeong Korean Buddhism Broadcasting Stele for Buddhist Monk Nanghye at Seongjusa Temple Site, Boryeong