Large Temple Site Discovered at Gyeongju Heungryunsaji, Where 'Eolgulmunui Sumaksae' Was Found

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Traces of a large main hall have been confirmed at Heungryunsa Temple Site in Gyeongju, where the ‘Gyeongju Face-patterned Sumaksae’ roof tile was excavated. The Cultural Heritage Administration announced on the 25th, “Through excavation and investigation of the area, we found a large main hall site comparable in scale to the main hall of Hwangnyongsa Temple.” The main hall refers to the large hall enshrining the principal Buddha.

Heungryunsa Temple Site has Heungryunsa Temple, built in the 1980s. It is presumed that Yeongmyosa Temple, founded in 635, previously existed there. This is because roof tiles inscribed with characters such as ‘Yeongmyosa (靈廟寺)’ and ‘Yeongmyojisa (靈廟之寺)’ were excavated. Last year, Buddhist ritual objects presumed to be from the Goryeo Dynasty were also excavated, drawing attention.

The investigation team discovered traces of the pedestal forming the main hall. The pedestal is a platform that is neatly leveled and built higher than the ground. At the Heungryunsa site, a double-layered pedestal with upper and lower levels was constructed. Notably, foundation stones for a sunshade structure, installed to block sunlight, were found on the lower level.

A Cultural Heritage Administration official explained, “It is presumed that the main hall had a sunshade eave, a roof structure built on the upper wall of the entrance or the roof edge to block sunlight or rainwater.” The official added, “Except for the middle main hall of Hwangnyongsa Temple (584) and the main hall of Sacheonwangsa Temple (679), no other examples of main halls with double-layered pedestals and sunshade eaves have been confirmed in Gyeongju. This is important data for the study of main halls in Silla temples.”

Academia is also paying close attention to the scale and form of the pedestal. The height from the pedestal stones to the foundation stones inside the main hall site is 230 cm, more than twice the 110 cm height of the pedestal at the middle main hall of Hwangnyongsa Temple. A Cultural Heritage Administration official said, “This is the case with the tallest pedestal in the country.”

It is presumed that the main hall building underwent at least three changes from the Silla period to the Joseon Dynasty. Lotus-patterned Sumaksae roof tiles made during the Three Kingdoms period were excavated at the main hall site. In front of the main hall, decorative roof tiles called gopsaegiwa, which adorn the roof ridge ends, were found.

A Cultural Heritage Administration official elaborated, “It is presumed that in the early 8th century, stair stones made by fitting multiple stones together were installed,” and added, “Between the 9th and 12th centuries, it likely transformed into a large building with wide sunshade eaves.”

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