The First Gateway to the Buddha World, Reassessing Its Value as a Treasure

'Haenisa Honghamun', 'Yongchusa Iljumun' Designation Notice
Generally Reflects Dapo-style Architecture and Period Characteristics Well

Iljumun (一柱門) is a structure built at the entrance of a temple. It signifies the first gate entering the Buddha's world, leaving behind the secular world. It was constructed during the Joseon Dynasty when the Sammun (三門) system was established. Generally, it reflects the ornate style of the Dapo system and the characteristics of its period well. Since cultural heritage designations have mainly focused on the main Buddha halls (主佛殿), Iljumun has been relatively undervalued. Until 2021, the only Iljumun designated as a treasure was the 'Busan Beomeosa Jogye Gate.'

Last year, the Cultural Heritage Administration surveyed Iljumun gates at fifty temples. Through expert review and the Cultural Heritage Committee's deliberation, four were designated as treasures, including the 'Suncheon Seonamsa Iljumun.' This year, the number will increase by six more. These include 'Hapcheon Haeinsa Honghamun,' 'Hamyang Yongchusa Iljumun,' 'Gokseong Taeansa Iljumun,' 'Hadong Ssanggyesa Iljumun,' 'Dalseong Yongyeonsa Jaunmun,' and 'Suncheon Songgwangsa Iljumun.' The Cultural Heritage Administration announced on the 25th that it will collect opinions from various sectors for a month and finalize the designation through the Cultural Heritage Committee's review.

Hapcheon Haeinsa Honghamun is presumed to have been built when Haeinsa was expanded with the support of King Sejo. Its form is a single-bay front with a gabled roof (a roof with slopes only at the front and back, covered with tiles). It features a Dapo-style bracket structure with rafters and additional supports. Generally, a gabled-roof Iljumun has five brackets visible from the front. Honghamun has six brackets, making it appear relatively grand.

Hamyang Yongchusa Iljumun is the Iljumun of the former Jangsusa (長水寺) located around the Hamyang Yongchu Valley. It was built in the 37th year of King Sukjong's reign (1711). During the Korean War, all the Jangsusa temple buildings were destroyed by fire, but this gate was the only structure to escape damage. It is currently used as the Iljumun of Yongchusa, which was a hermitage of Jangsusa. Its form is a single-bay building with a hipped-and-gabled roof (a gabled roof with triangular hips on the sides, covered with tiles). There are seven brackets on the front square, giving it a grand and magnificent impression.

Gokseong Taeansa Iljumun was originally built as a Jogye Gate in the 16th year of King Jungjong's reign (1521). The beam-raising inscription bears the signature of Prince Hyoryeong, the second son of King Taejong. The style and arrangement of the brackets showcase late Joseon architectural techniques. The Cultural Heritage Administration explained, "It is evident that the building has been continuously repaired." Inside the upper part of the main pillar is a dragon head (龍頭). The two horns, large eyes, eyebrows, wide-open mouth with teeth, and the mane at the back of the head are elaborately and realistically depicted.

Hadong Ssanggyesa Iljumun is a single-bay front building with a double-eaved hipped-and-gabled roof, built in the 19th year of King Injo's reign (1641). It has a Dapo-style bracket structure with five brackets on the front square and is relatively large on the sides. The Cultural Heritage Administration evaluated, "The mountain temple layout, where the Iljumun, Geumgangmun, and Sacheonwangmun gates are built along a straight axis leading to the main Buddha hall, is well preserved."

Dalseong Yongyeonsa Jaunmun is a single-bay front building with a hipped-and-gabled roof, built in the 21st year of King Sukjong's reign (1695). It has a Woojin-gak roof frame covered with an additional gabled roof. Photographic materials from the 1920s show a plaque with the name 'Jaunmun,' indicating the name was changed before then. It features a Dapo-style structure with fourteen brackets, and the shape of the main pillar components is unique, spreading obliquely outward at the bottom.

Suncheon Songgwangsa Iljumun is a single-bay front building with a gabled roof that has existed since before 1802. It is said to have survived the fire in the 8th year of King Heonjong's reign (1842), which destroyed most of Songgwangsa's temple buildings. Its features include a double-eaved roof, Dapo-style structure (twelve brackets), and a dragon head inside the upper part of the main pillar.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.