강진 월남사지는 전라남도 강진군 성전면 월남리에 있는 사지로, 보물로 지정된 삼층석탑과 보조국사 지눌의 제자인 眞覺國師 慧心의 비가 남아 있으며, 최근 수년간 발굴이 계속되면서 그 전모가 속속들이 밝혀지고 있다. 그러나 3층석탑만은 여전히 후백제시기부터 진각국사 생존 시기까지 등 그 조성시에 대한 다양한 견해가 제기되는 등 그 실체가 밝혀지지 않고 있다. 이러한 월남사지 삼층석탑 조성시기에 대한 다양한 견해가 제기되는 이유는 “단순 모방에 따른 변형” 내지는 “조탑 원리에 대한 이해 부족”으로 조형적 왜곡현상을 보이기 때문이다. 이렇게 양식 특징만으로 조성시기를 밝히는 것은 한계가 있기 때문에, 백제시기, 통일신라기, 후백제기, 고려시대로 나눠 當代 불교미술품과의 비교, 조성배경을 면밀히 분석해 보았다. 그 결과, 월남사지 삼층석탑은 11세기 4/4분기~12세기 3/4분기 사이에 조성되었을 가능성이 높으며, 특히 월남사지에서 발굴된 「(副)戶長趙」銘 기와 및 「○○元年己巳北舍瓦草」銘 기와와 나주 복암리 3호기와가마에 대한 考古地磁氣學的 연대 측정 결과를 종합적으로 살펴볼 때 1149년 전후에 조성되었다는 결론을 얻을 수 있었다. 아울러, 이 석탑은 당시 와해되어가던 지역사회를 통합하기 위해 裨補寺塔說에 근거하여 副戶長 趙某가 擧郡縣的 香徒結社를 조직하여 조성한 것으로 판단하였다. 요컨대, 월남사는 백제시기부터 법등이 이어졌는데, 통일신라 말에는 송계선원으로 바뀌어 봉림산문의 심희가 주석하기도 한다. 후삼국기 이 지역을 둘러싼 태봉 · 고려와 후백제 간 쟁패 때문에 일시적으로 법등이 꺼졌을 가능성이 높다. 그러나 12세기 중엽 삼층석탑 조성을 계기로 다시 한 번 법등이 점화되었을 것으로 보인다. 이를 계기로 13세기에는 수선사와 연계되었으며, 진각국사 입적 후 그의 탑비가 조성될 만큼 고려시대 불교계에서 중요한 위상을 차지할 수 있었다.
Weolnamsa Temple site is situated in Weolnam-ri, Seongjeon-myeon, Gangjin-gun, Jeollanam-do. A three-story stone pagoda, designated as a Treasure, and a stele of the National Preceptor Jingak Hyeshim(1178-1234) stands at the site. As excavations have continued for the last few years, the original appearance of the temple is being revealed. However, the three-story stone pagoda is not yet fully understood, even the opinions on its construction date varying from the Later Baekje period to the time of Jingak Hyeshim. The confusions in the previous attempts at dating the pagoda are due to the unconventional style of the monument, likely caused by “imitation without understanding” and “misunderstanding of the principles” when raising the pagoda. As it is hard to date the pagoda based only on stylistic analysis, comparisons with other periods-Baekje, Unified Silla, Later Baekje, and Goryeo-, and analysis of its historical background were made in this study. The construction date of the pagoda can be put to the period between the last quarter of the 11th century and the third quarter of the 12th century. A roof tile, excavated at the site further narrows down the date. It was inscribed with the words, “Deputy Village Headman Cho” and “First Year of [missing], Year of Gisa.” As a roof tile of the same shape, marked with the same name of the “Deputy Village Headman Cho” was found inside the Kiln No. 3 at Bokam-ri, Naju-shi, whose date was determined by archeomagnetic methods, the roof tile and the pagoda can be dated to around 1149. Moreover, this roof tile serves as an evidence that the pagoda was likely made by a Town Association headed by the Deputy Village Headman, named Cho, as an attempt to rebuild and consolidate the regional community, based on the Geomantic Theory to complement terrain with temple and pagoda, of the late Unified Silla. In conclusion, the site of Weolnamsa Temple was a place of Buddhist worship since Baekje period. It was named as Songgye Meditational Hall in the late Unifed Silla and led by monk Simhee of Bongrimsanmun . In the Later Three Kingdoms period, its religious functions were temporarily lost as the area was at the center of power struggles between Taebong(later Goryeo), and Later Baekje. However, as the pagoda was erected in the mid-12th century, the site was re-established as a place of worship and connected to Suseonsa Temple by 13th century. The importance of this temple in Goryeo Buddhism is evident in the fact that a stele of Hyeshim was erected at the temple after his death.