'Eungjinjeon Hall at Andong Gwangheungsa Temple,' Survived Two Fires, Designated as a National Treasure

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

'Andong Gwangheungsa Eungjinjeon' Wide View

A temple building that demonstrates the evolution of Buddhist architecture during the Joseon Dynasty will now be managed as a national treasure.

The Cultural Heritage Administration announced on November 3 that it has designated 'Eungjinjeon Hall at Gwangheungsa Temple in Andong' as a National Treasure.

Gwangheungsa Temple is a historic temple believed to have been founded during the Unified Silla period. It was once so large that the publication of Buddhist scriptures was active during the early Joseon Dynasty.

Records indicate that the roof tiles of Eungjinjeon Hall were replaced in the 25th year of King Injo’s reign (1647), suggesting that the building was constructed earlier, likely during the mid-Joseon period.

Gwangheungsa Temple suffered two major fires, in 1827 and again in 1946, which destroyed the main hall (Daeungjeon) and other key buildings. Eungjinjeon Hall, being situated away from the central area, escaped damage and subsequently served as the main Buddhist hall.

The Horror on the Front of Andong Gwangheungsa Eungjinjeon

The building features a hip-and-gable roof with double eaves, measuring five bays across the front and two bays along the side. The front is ornately decorated in the multi-bracket (dapo) style, with brackets placed between the columns.

The sides and rear are relatively simple, with brackets set only atop the columns. A Cultural Heritage Administration official stated, "While it retains characteristics of early Joseon architecture, it also reflects subsequent stylistic changes, making it highly valuable for academic study."

Inside, it houses the 'Clay Seated Sakyamuni Buddha and Five Disciples with Sixteen Arhats,' designated as a tangible cultural heritage of North Gyeongsang Province. This group of Buddhist statues, believed to have been created in the 16th century, numbers forty-two in total. The official added, "The large number and unique arrangement of the statues make them highly significant in terms of artistry and research value."

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