Bongjeongsa is a

Korea Korea ( ko, 한국, or , ) is a peninsular region in East Asia. Since 1945, it has been divided at or near the 38th parallel, with North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) comprising its northern half and South Korea (Republic o ...

Buddhist Buddhism ( , ), also known as Buddha Dharma and Dharmavinaya (), is an Indian religion or philosophical tradition based on teachings attributed to the Buddha. It originated in northern India as a -movement in the 5th century BCE, and ...

temple on the slopes of Mount Cheondeung in

Andong Andong () is a city in South Korea, and the capital of North Gyeongsang Province. It is the largest city in the northern part of the province with a population of 167,821 as of October 2010. The Nakdong River flows through the city. Andong is a m ...

city,

North Gyeongsang North Gyeongsang Province ( ko, 경상북도, translit=Gyeongsangbuk-do, ) is a province in eastern South Korea. The province was formed in 1896 from the northern half of the former Gyeongsang province, and remained a province of Korea until the ...

Province,

South Korea South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and sharing a Korean Demilitarized Zone, land border with North Korea. Its western border is formed ...

. It is a subsidiary temple of

Gounsa Gounsa is a head temple of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism. It stands in Danchon-myeon, Uiseong County, in the province of Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea. The temple was built in 681 C.E. by Uisang, a leading Buddhist monk of Silla. The nam ...

, the head temple of the 16th branch of

Jogye Order The Jogye Order, officially the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism (대한불교조계종, 大韓佛敎曹溪宗), is the representative order of traditional Korean Buddhism with roots that date back 1200 years to the Later Silla National Master D ...

.(in Korean
봉정사 鳳停寺 (Bongjeongs)
Nate /

Encyclopedia of Korean Culture The ''Encyclopedia of Korean Culture'' is a Korean language encyclopedia published by the Academy of Korean Studies and DongBang Media Co. The articles in the encyclopedia are aimed at readers who want to learn about Korean culture and histor ...

At 1,650 m²/17,760 ft², Bongjeongsa is the largest temple in Andong, and is the site of the oldest wooden building, Geungnakjeon, in Korea. There are 10 buildings at the main temple and a total of 9 other buildings at Bongjeongsa's two sub temples found to the east and west of the main temple complex. This temple constitutes the oldest example of wooden architecture in Korea. During her trip to Korea in 1999, Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom was particularly impressed by the scale and beauty of Bongjeonsa Temple.

Origin

Bongjeongsa is believed first established by Monk

Uisang Uisang (625–702) was one of the most eminent early Silla Korean scholar-monks, a close friend of Wonhyo (元曉). He traveled to China, studying at Mount Zhongnan as a student of the influential Huayan master Zhiyan (智儼) and as a senior ...

in 672 during the 12th year of King

Munmu Munmu of Silla (626–681; reigned 661–681) was the 30th king of the Korean kingdom of Silla. He is usually considered to have been the first ruler of the Unified Silla period. Munmu was the son of King Muyeol and Munmyeong, who was the young ...

of Silla (661-681), however, an inscription found during a restoration of Geuknakjeon state that Neungin Daedeuk, a disciple of Monk Uisang, established the temple. In 1363 the last major reconstruction took place and in 1625 and 1972, renovations were undertaken.

Treasures

National Treasure #15

Geungnakjeon (Nirvana Hall), dates back to the early 1200s, is presumed to be the oldest wooden building in South Korea. Originally called Daejangjeon, it was formerly the main hall of Beongjeongsa Temple. The hall was constructed with slated windows on both sides, with the door in the front middle compartment, and has a gabled roof supported by column brackets. Inside the hall, a Buddhist statue is placed and decorated in an ornamental canopy, while the Buddhist altar is carved with a scroll design. Though built during the

Goryeo Dynasty Goryeo (; ) was a Korean kingdom founded in 918, during a time of national division called the Later Three Kingdoms period, that unified and ruled the Korean Peninsula until 1392. Goryeo achieved what has been called a "true national unificati ...

era, the hall shows influence of the architectural style of the early

Unified Silla Unified Silla, or Late Silla (, ), is the name often applied to the Korean kingdom of Silla, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, after 668 CE. In the 7th century, a Silla–Tang alliance conquered Baekje and the southern part of Goguryeo in the ...

Period.

National Treasure #311

Daeungjeon A Mahavira Hall, usually simply known as a Main Hall, is the main hall or building in a traditional Chinese Buddhist temple, enshrining representations of Gautama Buddha and various other buddhas and bodhisattvas. It is encountered throughout ...

'' is the main temple hall, with stunning original murals, representing building styles of the early

Joseon Dynasty 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 ...

era. Notable for the style of pillars, most likely brought from

Song dynasty The Song dynasty (; ; 960–1279) was an imperial dynasty of China that began in 960 and lasted until 1279. The dynasty was founded by Emperor Taizu of Song following his usurpation of the throne of the Later Zhou. The Song conquered the rest ...

, Daeungjeon incorporates a column-head and curved bracket form.

Treasure #448

Hwaeom Gangdang, a study hall, constructed in 1588 during the mid-Joseon Dynasty.

Treasure #449

Gogeumdang, a small worship hall, constructed in 1616.

Gyeongsangbuk-do Cultural Heritage #325

Manseru is a building that was constructed during the reign of King Sukjong of Joseon, and serves as a gateway to the main hall of the temple. On November 1, 2001, it was designated as Gyeongsangbuk-do tangible national treasure No. 325.

Gyeongsangbuk-do Cultural Heritage #182

The three-story stone pagoda was designated as Kyongsangbuk-do Tangible Cultural Heritage No. 182 on December 29, 1984. It is 318 cm tall, and is believed to have been made during the mid- Goryeo Dynasty.http://terms.naver.com/entry.nhn?docId=1195987&cid=40942&categoryId=33613 Bongjeongsa-Three-story stone pagoda

Gallery

File:Korea-Andong-Bongjeongsa 3037-06 Daeungjeon.JPG, Bongjeongsa Daeungjeon - National Treasure #311 File:Korea-Andong-Bongjeongsa 3034-06 Maseru.JPG, Bongjeongsa Maseru File:Korea-Andong-Bongjeongsa-Maseru-Drum-01.jpg, Drum and wooden fish in the Bongjeongsa Manseru pavilion File:Korea-Andong-Bongjeongsa 3046-06 Bell Pavilion.JPG, Bongjeongsa Bell Pavilion

References

External links

Official site
{{Buddhism topics Religious organizations established in the 7th century Buddhist temples of the Jogye Order Buddhist temples in South Korea Andong Buildings and structures in North Gyeongsang Province Tourist attractions in North Gyeongsang Province Religious buildings and structures completed in 682 7th-century Buddhist temples World Heritage Sites in South Korea