Although the Three-story Stone Pagoda at Silleuksa Temple in Jecheon is a Mugujeong pagoda built in the period of united Silla, which is rare in Chungbuk, but has not received much attention until now. Therefore, this study grasped the stylistic characteristics of the Three-story Stone Pagoda at Silleuksa Temple to figure out the time of production and compared and considered the small earthen pagodas and gilt-bronze sarira reliquary buried in the pagoda with other Mugujeong pagodas and sarira reliquaries in the same period to discuss the nature and significance of the foregoing burial goods.
The forms and stylistic characteristics of the Three-story Stone Pagoda at Silleuksa Temple were examined focusing on the construction structure of the stylobates, and based on the results, it was judged that the Three-story Stone Pagoda was built in the late 9th to early 10th century, the late Silla Dynasty period. In addition, it is estimated that this stone pagoda was built in the vicinity and moved to the current location and rebuilt later and that some members were repaired at that time.
The small earthen pagodas and gilt-bronze sarira reliquary buried in the upper stylobate of the Three-story Stone Pagoda at Silleuksa Temple site tell that this pagoda is a Mugujeong pagoda built according to 『Mugujeong Sutra』. In the latter part of the Silla Dynasty period, professional monks held the rites of establishing the Mugujeong pagoda, such as the dharani jakdanbeop. Therefore, although the burial goods in the Three-story Stone Pagoda at Silleuksa Temple lost their original forms, it is thought that the small earthen pagodas surrounded the gilt-bronze sarira reliquary as with the sarira reliquaries in other Mugujeong pagodas in the same period and the dharani was not put into the small earthen pagodas but was written separately and enshrined together with the sarira reliquary. It is understood that the production of 108 small earthen pagodas, unlike the orthodox offering method, reflects the intention to escape from all passions by achieving full enlightenment to realize various prayer requests at once. The small earthen pagodas and gilt-bronze sarira reliquary excavated from the Three-story Stone Pagoda at Silleuksa Temple show marked differences in level in terms of quality such as materials and manufacturing technology compared to the works originated from the royal family. When these stylistic characteristics are considered, it is assumed that they were created through an association led by local believers in Jecheon.
Through this study of the Three-story Stone Pagoda at Silleuksa Temple and the burial goods, it is possible to broaden the perspective on the creation of Mugujeong pagodas and faith in the period of united Silla discussed in previous studies centered on the works originated from the royal family.