Bronze Bell of Gapsa Temple

The Bronze Bell of Gapsa Temple is an early Joseon bell, cast in 1584, the seventeenth year of King Seonjo, to pray for the king's long life and to be hung at Gapsa Temple. Standing 131 cm high with a mouth diameter of 91 cm, it has a gently curving profile from the shoulder to the middle, then runs straight from the middle down to the mouth. At the top of the bell there is no sound tube; instead a single cast forms a loop of two dragons with their heads turned in opposite directions. A wave-shaped floral band encircles the shoulder of the bell, and just below it, in two registers, a band of lotus patterns above and Sanskrit letters closely arranged in a circle below are carved. Below that, in four places, square raised borders were made, each enclosing nine lotus-bud bosses with convex centres. At four points on the body of the bell separate striking spots were placed, and between them stand figures of the bodhisattva Jijang standing on clouds and holding a monk's staff. A little above the mouth of the bell runs a band of vine-scroll pattern. This bell shared the nation's hardships: during the Japanese colonial period it was requisitioned under the name of a "donation", and after liberation it was brought back to Gapsa Temple.

AI Translation

Visiting

Closed

N/A (Open all year round)

Admission

Individuals - Adults 3,000 won / Teenagers 1,500 won / Children 1,000 won<br> Groups - Adults 2,500 won / Teenagers 1,000 won / Children 500 won<br><br> * Groups - 30 people or more

Parking

Available (Paid parking lot)

Information

• 1330 Travel Hotline: +82-2-1330 <br> (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)<br> • For more info: +82-41-857-8981

Visitor information: Korea Tourism Organization · KOGL Type 1

Where it is

Region

Gongju, Chungnam

Designation

Treasure · 보물