Ten Temple Buildings, Including Hyeondeungsa Geungnakjeon, to Be Designated as Treasures

Gapyung Hyeondeungsa Geungnakjeon.

원본보기 아이콘

The Cultural Heritage Administration announced on the 30th that it will designate six subsidiary Buddhist halls, including "Gapyung Hyeondeungsa Geungnakjeon," and four monastic quarters, including "Geumsan Yeongcheonam Muryangsugak," as treasures. Over the course of one month, opinions will be collected from various sectors, and the final designation will be decided after a review by the Cultural Heritage Committee.

Subsidiary Buddhist halls are temple buildings set apart from the main hall, where Buddha and bodhisattvas are enshrined. Examples include Nahanjeon, Yeongsanjeon, and Wontongjeon halls. Monastic quarters are residential buildings within temples where monks live.

The subsidiary Buddhist halls announced for designation are Hyeondeungsa Geungnakjeon, "Goesan Gagyeonsa Birojeon," "Seonunsa Yeongsanjeon Hall in Gochang," "Wontongjeon Hall at Seonamsa Temple in Suncheon," "Eungjindang at Songgwangsa Temple in Suncheon," and "Eungjinjeon at Girimsa Temple in Gyeongju."

Hyeondeungsa Geungnakjeon is a rare surviving Buddhist hall from the Joseon Dynasty in the northern Gyeonggi region after the Korean War. It was reconstructed in 1765. Through the discovery of a ridge beam inscription and dendrochronological analysis during restoration work last year, it was confirmed that major wooden members date back to that period.

Gochang Seonunsa Yeongsanjeon.

원본보기 아이콘

It is estimated that Gagyeonsa Birojeon was rebuilt in 1499, based on records of the reconstruction and architectural style. The columns show an entasis shape, with the middle part thick and tapering towards the top and bottom. The use of foundation stones indicates that elements from the early Goryeo period were reused.

Seonunsa Yeongsanjeon Hall was originally built as a two-story Jangnyukjeon in 1474, but was destroyed during the Imjin War. It was rebuilt in 1713 as a two-story Gakhwangjeon, which was again lost to fire in 1751. The current building was reconstructed the following year and was later remodeled into a single-story Yeongsanjeon Hall in 1821.

Wontongjeon Hall at Seonamsa Temple was rebuilt in 1828 and also served as a royal ancestral hall. In 1788, King Jeongjo ordered prayers at Seonamsa for the birth of a crown prince. Later, when the crown prince (King Sunjo) was six years old, he personally wrote the characters "Daebokjeon" and presented them to Seonamsa. These characters were hung in Wontongjeon Hall in the first year of Sunjo’s reign (1801) and are still preserved to this day. The building has a 'Jeong'-shaped (丁) layout, with three bays at the front, three bays at the side, and one bay protruding forward. Three sides, except for the rear, are open.

Eungjindang at Songgwangsa Temple was built in 1504 and renovated in 1623. Inside are treasures: "Three Wooden Buddha Statues and Sixteen Clay Arhats at Songgwangsa Temple in Suncheon" and "Shakyamuni Buddha Post-altar Painting and Sixteen Arhat Painting."

Sunchon Seonamsa Wontongjeon.

원본보기 아이콘

According to records such as "Girimsa Reconstruction Record (1705)," Girimsa Eungjinjeon was reconstructed in 1649. In 1729, five hundred arhats were enshrined, and the hall has been preserved without significant damage or alteration to this day.

The monastic quarters announced for designation are Muryangsugak at Yeongcheonam Hermitage, "Seolsundang at Janggoksa Temple in Cheongyang," "Seolsundang and Yosa at Naesosa Temple in Buan," and "Jeonghyewon at Sungnimsa Temple in Iksan."

At Yeongcheonam Muryangsugak, a ridge beam inscription and written records discovered during dismantling and restoration work in 2000 confirmed that the building was reconstructed in 1786. The structure includes an ondol-heated room for mountain practice and daily life, an enshrined Buddha statue, and a space for offering Buddhist services.

According to dendrochronological analysis conducted during dismantling and restoration in 2021, Janggoksa Seolsundang is estimated to have been reconstructed or rebuilt in 1569. The building has a gabled roof with five bays at the front and three at the side. Originally, it was built with three bays at the front and three at the side, but was expanded as living arrangements changed.

Seolsundang and Temple Lodging at Naesosa Temple in Buan.

원본보기 아이콘

Naesosa Seolsundang and Yosa were built during the reconstruction of Naesosa in 1640. After repairs in 1821, the yosa was expanded in 1893. The complex has a square layout, with two gabled-roof buildings connected together.

Jeonghyewon at Sungnimsa Temple was reconstructed in 1591 after being destroyed by a mountain fire in 1589. The third reconstruction began in 1642, with the ridge beam installed in February 1644. The current building was completed at that time. Construction records exist, revealing details about the timber procurement process and the sourcing of materials such as ironware and salt. It is also confirmed that both monk artisans and civilian craftsmen jointly participated in the construction.

© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.