An excavation and partial restoration in 1915 by the Japanese uncovered a sarira, or relic box, of the cremated remains of a priest hidden in between the second and third stories.

[1][2] Precious artifacts such as gold and stone ornaments, coins, scissors, and a needle were also found in the pagoda which indicated that a woman of royal blood, perhaps even Queen Seondeok herself, had once owned the objects.

Two figures guard each doorway and are known as Geumgan-yeoksa (literally "Mighty Diamond Men" from Skt "vajra-yakṣa") or Inwangsang, guardians of the Buddhist canon.

According to legend in the Samguk Yusa, in 795, the 11th year of King Wonseong, missionaries from the Tang dynasty visited Silla.

The missionaries changed three dragons protecting Silla into small fish and took them away to Tang China with them, hidden in bamboo.

The historical research of Chusa Kim Jeong-huI, who visited the temple at the end of the Joseon dynasty, revealed that it was a monument erected by Wonhyo.

Some of the inscriptions were written on the site of the Daedonggeumseokseo, which was discovered in the Bunhwangsa Temple compound in 1976, and are located in the museum of Dongguk university.