Geodonsa Temple Site, Wonju

The site lies in a small valley at the foot of Hyeongyesan Mountain. Excavation has shown that the temple was first built around the 9th century, in the late Silla period, was extended and repaired in the early Goryeo period, and remained in use until the early Joseon period. The site has revealed the foundations of the middle gate, a pagoda, the main hall, the lecture hall, monks' quarters and a corridor; the main hall, with five bays across the front and three bays to the side, is thought to have been a two-storey building. The three-storey stone pagoda (a treasure) north of the middle gate site is believed to date from the temple's founding and follows the typical style of Silla stone pagodas. East of the pagoda stands the memorial stele for National Preceptor Wongong, Jijong (930–1018) (a treasure); its inscription was composed by Choe Chung and written by Kim Geo-ung in 1025. Alongside the stele there was once a stupa known as the reliquary stupa of National Preceptor Wongong (a treasure), which has since been moved to the grounds of Gyeongbokgung Palace. Geodonsa was a major temple of the Beopan Order, which stood at the centre of the Buddhist establishment in the early Goryeo period, but was later absorbed into the Cheontae Order as that order gained popularity in the mid-Goryeo period. As a temple site spanning the end of Silla and the beginning of Goryeo, Geodonsa is notable as a rare example of a temple complex built around a single pagoda.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Wonju, Gangwon

Designation

Historic Site · 사적