A study on the structure of the Three storied Stone pagoda in Gameunsa Temple site.

감은사지 삼층석탑 구조에 관한 연구

Three-story Stone pagodas in Gameunsa Temple site, one of the early staged stone pagodas, has been known as a standard of Silla stone pagodas. A stone pagoda is not only a stone art work and but also a stone architecture. In understanding the stone pagoda it is very important to be approached with technological side in which we can investigate the stone pagoda deeply and as well as to have been approached with art historical view. Also it needs that we should see the stone pagoda in view of structural safety. We can get many high technique from our ancestors who made Gameunsajiseoktap. 1. To reduce any deformation such as relaxation and sinking of members which is caused by a heavy load the members such as the lower tier of the base is made up of the foundation stone and side stone in each, comprising one stone. 2. A special construction method for connection between wall stone and column stone in stereobates was invented. It is to make column stone projected partially and wall stone be caved in that two members should be jointed well. This unique method is not used any longer after the three-story Stone pagodas in Gameunsa Temple Site. 3. In each side upper and lower member are not engaged as the size of roof stones and support stones of roof stones are different. It can be done for a distribution of perpendicular load and a prevention for relaxation of members. 4. It makes sure that to make upper ends of support stones 10mm lower was to be avoid upper loads to it judging from survey in disassemblying east pagoda. It proves that ancestors who made this stone pagoda had a technique to understand the structural matters to make small members as big as possible, not to engage in joint, to avoid in ends of members from upper load.