Beopcheonsa Temple Site, Wonju

This is the former site of Beopcheonsa Temple, in Beopcheon-ri, Buron-myeon, Wonju. It was a leading temple of the Beopsang school (the Consciousness-Only, or Yogācāra, tradition of Buddhism) during the Goryeo period, and the place where State Preceptor Jigwang, whose ordained name was Haerin, entered monastic life as a young man and, in his final years, returned to pass away. Guksa, or "State Preceptor," was a title bestowed on a monk considered worthy to be teacher of the whole nation; Jigwang was the foremost eminent monk of his age and wielded enormous influence as a spiritual pillar of the state. The exact date of Beopcheonsa Temple's founding is unknown, but according to the Goryeosa, the Sinjeung Dongguk yeoji seungnam and the Dongmunseon, it was built in the Unified Silla period and flourished greatly under Goryeo. In the early Joseon period the scholar Yu Bang-seon is said to have stayed here and taught pupils, and Han Myeong-hoe, Seo Geo-jeong and Gwon Ram are recorded among his students. Heo Gyun, known as the author of The Tale of Hong Gil-dong, visited the site and wrote an account of it, the Yuwonju Beopcheonsagi (Record of a Visit to Beopcheonsa Temple, Wonju); according to this work, the temple burned down during the Japanese invasions of 1592-1598 and was abandoned thereafter. Relics that survive today at the Beopcheonsa Temple Site include the stele for State Preceptor Jigwang (national treasure), the stupa of State Preceptor Jigwang (national treasure), and a flagpole support (Gangwon State cultural heritage material). As the central temple of the Beopsang school, one of the most powerful Buddhist orders of its day, and as a place where outstanding Goryeo-period stone art can still be seen, the site is of great value.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Wonju, Gangwon

Designation

Historic Site · 사적