Jeokgwangjeon Hall of Bogyeongsa Temple, Pohang

Bogyeongsa Temple is said to have been founded in 602 (the 24th year of King Jinpyeong of Silla) by the Great Master Jimyeong, who had studied in the Chinese state of Chen and then returned to Silla. According to the Naeyeonsan Bogyeongsa Geumdang Tapgi, written by Master Samyeong in 1588, the Jeokgwangjeon Hall at Bogyeongsa Temple was first built in 603 (the 25th year of King Jinpyeong of Silla), rebuilt by State Preceptor Wonjin in 1214 (the first year of Emperor Gojong of Goryeo), and rebuilt a third time in 1677 (the third year of King Sukjong); however, some hold that this account does not fit with the known history of Buddhism's transmission to the Korean peninsula. Jeokgwangjeon Hall has a floor plan of three bays across the front and two bays deep, with a dapo (multi-cluster bracket) gable roof, and it enshrines Vairocana Buddha as its principal image. The column bases have clearly defined column seats and gomaegi (stone sill elements), both carved from stone in a technique typical of Unified Silla architecture; a simbangseok (sill stone) also survives at the front, suggesting that the hall was rebuilt reusing old members from the Silla period. In the central bay of the front, a sinbangmok (door-frame timber) carved with a lion is fitted; whereas such members are usually rounded and carved with taegeuk (yin-yang) or similar motifs, this lion carving is finely executed, and since few such examples survive in Korea, it can be regarded as being of high heritage value. The bracket sets (gongpo) belong to the dapo type; two intermediate bracket sets are placed between the columns on the front and rear, and one on each side. It is normally the rule that dapo-type buildings with gable roofs do not have bracket sets on the side walls, so Jeokgwangjeon Hall is somewhat exceptional in this respect. It is also characterised by having the same number of projecting bracket tiers (chulmok) on both the interior and exterior, and the detailed form of its bracket sets clearly shows the features of late-seventeenth-century dapo brackets. Although it is a dapo-type building, it is also distinctive for having, instead of an umulbanja (coffered ceiling), an open yeondeung ceiling that exposes the roof structure directly. Taken together, these features show that Jeokgwangjeon Hall is highly distinctive both structurally and decoratively, and that it well displays the characteristic building techniques of the mid-Joseon period, making it desirable that it be designated and preserved as a Treasure.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Pohang, Gyeongbuk

Designation

Treasure · 보물