Andong Gwangheungsa Eungjinjeon, Survives Fires to Be Designated as a Treasure

A Double-Eaved Hip-and-Gable Hall Built in the Mid-Joseon Period

A temple building that demonstrates the evolution of Buddhist architecture during the Joseon Dynasty will be designated as a Treasure.

'Andong Gwangheungsa Eungjinjeon' Wide View [Photo by National Heritage Administration]

The National Heritage Administration announced on September 3 that it plans to designate 'Andong Gwangheungsa Eungjinjeon' as a nationally designated cultural heritage Treasure. The agency will collect public opinions for a month and finalize the designation after a review by the Cultural Heritage Committee.

Gwangheungsa is a historic temple believed to have been founded during the Unified Silla period. It was once a large-scale temple, as evidenced by the active publication of Buddhist scriptures in the early Joseon Dynasty.

Eungjinjeon is estimated to have been built in the mid-Joseon period, as records indicate that roof tile work was carried out in the 25th year of King Injo's reign (1647).

Gwangheungsa suffered two major fires, in 1827 and 1946, which destroyed the Daeungjeon Hall and other key structures. Eungjinjeon, located away from the central area, escaped the fires and subsequently served as the main Buddhist hall.

The building features a double-eaved hip-and-gable roof, with five bays at the front and two bays on the side. The front facade is ornately decorated in the multi-bracket style, with brackets placed even between the columns. In contrast, the sides and rear are simpler, with brackets only atop the columns. A National Heritage Administration official explained that the bracket system "inherits the characteristics of early Joseon while also reflecting subsequent stylistic changes, making it highly valuable for academic study."

'Andong Gwangheungsa Eungjinjeon' Front View of the Main Hall Photo by National Heritage Administration

Inside, it enshrines the 'Clay Seated Sakyamuni Buddha and Sixteen Arhats Group,' which is designated as a tangible cultural heritage of North Gyeongsang Province. This group of Buddhist statues, believed to have been created in the 16th century, consists of a total of forty-two figures. A National Heritage Administration official noted, "The large number of statues and their unique arrangement make them highly significant both artistically and for research purposes."

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