The Nine-Story Pagoda of Hwangnyongsa皇龍寺九層塔

In the fifth year of the reign of Queen Seondeok, the twenty-seventh ruler of Silla, the tenth year of Zhenguan, the byeongsin year, the Dharma master Jajang went west to study, and at Wutaishan he received the Dharma from the bodhisattva Manjusri.〔The details are seen in his main biography.〕

Manjusri also said:

"The ruler of your country is a king of the Kshatriya (刹利種) line of India, and has already received the Buddha's prophecy, so there is a special affinity, unlike the ordinary peoples of the eastern barbarians. But because the mountains and rivers are rugged, the people's natures are rough and they trust many wrong views, so at times the gods of heaven send down calamities. Yet because there are learned monks in the country, the ruler and ministers are at ease and all the people are at peace."

When he finished speaking he vanished. Jajang knew this was a transformation of the great sage, and he withdrew weeping tears of blood.

As he passed by Taihe Pond (太和池) in China, a divine man suddenly came out and asked, "Why have you come here?"

Jajang answered, "Because I seek enlightenment."

The divine man bowed and asked again, "What troubles does your country have?"

Jajang said, "My country borders Malgal to the north and touches the Wa to the south, and the two countries of Goguryeo and Baekje take turns violating the frontier. Neighboring raiders come and go as they please, and this is the people's suffering."

The divine man said:

"Now your country has made a woman its ruler; there is virtue but no majesty. That is why the neighboring countries plot against it. You should return quickly to your home country."

Jajang asked, "If I return home, what will be of benefit?"

The god said:

"The Dharma-protecting dragon of Hwangnyongsa is my eldest son. He received the command of Brahma (梵王) and guards that temple. If you return to your country and complete a nine-story pagoda within the temple, the neighboring countries will submit and the nine barbarian peoples will come with tribute, and the royal line will be at peace forever. After the pagoda is built, hold the Palgwanhoe assembly and release the prisoners, and outside enemies will be unable to do harm."

When he finished speaking he suddenly hid himself and did not appear.〔The record kept at the temple says that he received the reason for building the pagoda at the place of the meditation master Yuanxiang on Zhongnanshan.〕

On the sixteenth day, in the seventeenth year of Zhenguan, the gyemyo year, he returned to the country with the sutras, images, robes, and gifts bestowed by the Tang emperor, and reported to the ruler the matter of building the pagoda.

Queen Seondeok consulted her ministers, and the ministers said, "Only after requesting craftsmen from Baekje can it be done."

So she sent treasures and silk and made the request to Baekje. A craftsman named Abiji (阿非知) received the command and came, and worked the wood and stone. The igan Yongchun (龍春)〔some say Yongsu〕 took charge of the work and led two hundred lesser craftsmen.

On the day the central pillar (刹柱) was first raised, the craftsman dreamed of his own country, Baekje, being destroyed. At this the craftsman grew doubtful in his heart and stopped his hands.

Suddenly the earth shook, and in the darkness an old monk and a strong man came out of the door of the golden hall and raised the pillar. Then the monk and the strong man both hid themselves and did not appear.

At this the craftsman repented and at last completed the pagoda.

The Record of the Central Pillar (刹柱記) says, "Above the iron dish the height is forty-two cheok, and below it one hundred and eighty-three cheok."

Jajang divided the hundred grains of relics he had received at Wutaishan and enshrined them inside the pillar, at the ordination platform (戒壇) of Tongdosa, and in the pagoda of Daehwasa, in answer to the request of the dragon of the pond.〔Daehwasa is south of Agok-hyeon, which is Ulju today, and was also built by the Dharma master Jajang.〕

After the pagoda was raised, heaven and earth became peaceful and the Three Han became one. How could this not be the divine shelter of the pagoda?

Later a king of Goguryeo, plotting to attack Silla, said, "They say Silla has three treasures and cannot be violated. What are they?"

"The sixteen-foot image and the nine-story pagoda of Hwangnyongsa, and the jade belt given by heaven (天賜玉帶) to King Jinpyeong."

At that he gave up the plan. It is of the same kind as Zhou having its nine tripods, so that the men of Chu did not dare look north.

In praise it is said:

Ghosts uphold it and gods support it, it presses down on the capital, Gold and blue dazzle, the eaves seem to fly. Climb and look down: how could only the nine barbarians bow? Now for the first time one sees that heaven and earth are uncommonly level.

Also, the Record of the Founding of the Eastern Capital (東都成立記), composed by the famous sage of Haedong, Anhong (安弘), says this:

"In the twenty-seventh reign of Silla a woman became ruler. Though she had the Way she had no majesty, and the nine barbarian peoples invaded and harassed the country. If a nine-story pagoda is built at Hwangnyongsa south of the dragon palace, the calamities from the neighboring countries can be held down.

The first story is Japan, The second story is China, The third story is Wuyue, The fourth story is Takna, The fifth story is Eungyu, The sixth story is Malgal, The seventh story is Danguk, The eighth story is Yeojeok, The ninth story is Yemaek."

Also, looking at the National History and the old records of the temple: after King Jinheung built the temple in the gyeyu year, the pagoda was first completed in the reign of Queen Seondeok, in the nineteenth year of Zhenguan, the eulsa year.

In the seventh year of the reign of King Hyoso, the thirty-second ruler, the first year of Shengli, the musul year, in the sixth month, lightning struck it.〔The temple's old record says it was in the reign of King Seongdeok, but that is wrong. There is no musul year in the reign of King Seongdeok.〕

In the reign of King Seongdeok, the thirty-third ruler, in the gyeongsin year, it was rebuilt. In the reign of King Gyeongmun, the forty-eighth ruler, in the muja year, in the sixth month, lightning struck it a second time, and in the same reign it was repaired a third time.

In this dynasty, in the fifth year of the reign of Gwangjong, the gyechuk year, in the tenth month, lightning struck it a third time, and in the thirteenth year of Hyeonjong, the sinyu year, it was rebuilt a fourth time. In the second year of Jeongjong, the eulhae year, lightning struck it a fourth time, and in the gapjin year of Munjong it was rebuilt a fifth time. In the last year of Heonjong, the eulhae year, lightning struck it a fifth time, and in the byeongja year of Sukjong it was rebuilt a sixth time.

In the sixteenth year of Gojong, the musul year, in the winter, in the fires of war from Seosan (西山), the pagoda, the temple, the sixteen-foot image, and the halls were all burned.