Beopjusa Cultural Heritage Management Systematized... Establishment of Seongbo Museum

Open to the Public Starting Today... Free Admission
Exhibition of Sixty-Six Items Including Three Treasures

Buddhist cultural heritage at Beopjusa Temple in Boeun, Chungbuk, is now managed more systematically. A Sacred Relics Museum has been built next to the Iljumun Gate of Beopjusa Temple. According to the National Heritage Agency on the 24th, it will be open to the public from that day. Admission is free.

The building is two stories above ground and one basement level (total floor area 3,125㎡). It includes storage facilities, exhibition rooms, multipurpose rooms, and seminar rooms. The project cost 19.8 billion KRW and took over three years to complete.

The museum houses three treasures: the Beopjusa Temple Gwaebultang (large Buddhist painting), the Shinbeopcheonmundo folding screen, and the Beopjusa Temple Bronze Bell. It also manages sixty-two cultural heritage items designated by Chungbuk Province, including the Seonjo Daewang Eopil folding screen and the Gagyeong Gun-nyeong Bronze Bell. However, the Gwaebultang is not displayed due to concerns about damage from its heavy weight.

Officials from Boeun County said, "Among the seven Korean mountain temples registered as World Cultural Heritage sites, Beopjusa Sacred Relics Museum was the last to be established," adding, "Now, precious Buddhist cultural heritage can be viewed up close."

Beopjusa Temple has the largest collection of Buddhist cultural heritage among domestic temples. It was founded by Uisin in the 14th year of King Jinheung's reign (533) and reconstructed by Jinpyo in the 12th year of King Hyegong's reign (776). The name means "the temple where the Buddha's law resides." It was named so because Uisin returned from the Western Regions carrying Buddhist scriptures on a donkey and stayed here.

The entire temple complex is designated as Historic Site No. 503. The surrounding pine forest and scenery are also protected as Scenic Site No. 61. Inside the temple, sixteen nationally designated cultural heritage items and twenty-two items designated by Chungbuk Province are scattered throughout.

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