Daeungjeon Hall of Songgwangsa Temple, Wanju

Songgwangsa Temple was first founded by the monk Doui in the seventh year of King Gyeongmun of Unified Silla (867). It later fell into ruin, and although State Preceptor Bojo, an eminent monk of the mid-Goryeo period, sent his disciples to rebuild a temple on the site, the work went unrealised for a long time. It is said that in the fourteenth year of King Gwanghaegun (1622) the monks Eungho, Seungmyeong, Unjeong, Deongnim, Deuksun and Hongsin built the temple. Expansion continued thereafter up to the fourteenth year of King Injo (1636), and the temple grew into a large establishment. Daeungjeon Hall is the central building of the temple. According to records, it was rebuilt in the fourteenth year of King Injo of Joseon (1636) by State Preceptor Byeogam, and completed with a further phase of construction by Seon Master Jebong in the eighth year of King Cheoljong (1857). It measures five bays across the front and three bays to the side, with a hip-and-gable roof that, seen from the side, forms the shape of the character 八 (eight). The gongpo—decorative bracket sets supporting the roof eaves—are arranged in the dapo style, with brackets placed both above the columns and between them. There is also a wooden plaque reading "Daeungjeon, [by] Uichang-gun seo"; Prince Uichang was King Seonjo's eighth son and King Gwanghaegun's younger brother. The text of the Songgwangsa Gaechangbi, a stele recording the temple's reconstruction erected in the fourteenth year of King Injo (1636), was likewise written by Prince Uichang, and the plaque is thought to date from the same time, serving as a reference for dating the construction of Daeungjeon Hall. Compared with other buildings, its central bay is relatively narrow, and it is distinctive for the paintings on the wall above the door. Inside, Sakyamuni Buddha is enshrined at the centre, flanked by Amitabha Buddha and the Medicine Buddha.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Wanju, Jeonbuk

Designation

Treasure · 보물