The Anak Woljongsa is an historic Buddhist temple, one of the

National Treasures of North Korea A National Treasure (국보; 國寶 : ) is a tangible artifact, site, or building deemed by the Government of North Korea to have significant historical or artistic value to the country. History The first list of Korean cultural treasures was des ...

(#75). It is located in Woljong-ni, Anak County,

South Hwanghae Province South Hwanghae Province (Hwanghaenamdo; , lit. "south Yellow Sea province") is a province in western North Korea. The province was formed in 1954 when the former Hwanghae Province was split into North and South Hwanghae. The provincial capital i ...

. It is located near Mt. Kuwol.

History and Description

The temple is named after Woljong, a Buddhist priest who built the temple. Dating from the

Koguryo Goguryeo (37 BC–668 AD) ( ) also called Goryeo (), was a Korean kingdom located in the northern and central parts of the Korean Peninsula and the southern and central parts of Northeast China. At its peak of power, Goguryeo controlled most ...

period, it was rebuilt during the

Joseon Joseon (; ; Middle Korean: 됴ᇢ〯션〮 Dyǒw syéon or 됴ᇢ〯션〯 Dyǒw syěon), officially the Great Joseon (; ), was the last dynastic kingdom of Korea, lasting just over 500 years. It was founded by Yi Seong-gye in July 1392 and re ...

dynasty. The site includes the Manse Pavilion, Myongbu Temple, Suwol Hall and other accessory buildings around Kuknakbo Hall. Construction first started in 846 with further additions during the Joseon period. Kungnakbo Hall is at the centre of the structure; along the north–south axis of the structure linking Kungnakbo and the Manse Pavilion are Myongbu Hall to the east and Suwol Hall to the west. Kungnakbo is a double-eaved gabled house with a curved roof with potbellied pillars and unique bracket decorations not found elsewhere in the structure. The eaves of the roof protrude 2.5 meters, supported by angled rafters. Inside, the ceiling is set as low as the height of the beams. The Manse Pavilion is a gabled house with five bays (measuring 11.72 meters) by two bays (measuring 6.02 meters). The loft-like Manse is built on a slope, its floor supported by stone pillars. The front and each side of the building are walled with wooden boards, the rear of the Manse is open. The site was visited by

Kim Jong-il Kim Jong-il (; ; ; born Yuri Irsenovich Kim;, 16 February 1941 – 17 December 2011) was a North Korean politician who was the second supreme leader of North Korea from 1994 to 2011. He led North Korea from the 1994 death of his father Kim ...

during the 1970s and 1980s.

References

National Treasures of North Korea Buildings and structures in South Hwanghae Province Buddhist temples in North Korea {{Buddhist-temple-stub