Beopgwangsa Temple Site, Pohang

Beopgwangsa Temple Site, Pohang, is a temple site located on Mount Bihaksan. The name and location of the temple can be confirmed through Joseon-period geographical texts, the Sinjeung dongguk yeoji seungnam (Newly Augmented Survey of the Geography of Korea) and the Donggyeong japgi. No precise historical record survives concerning the temple's founding, but an inscription on the tapjiseok, a stone tablet found inside the pagoda enshrining the relics of Sakyamuni Buddha, suggests that the temple flourished during the reign of King Munseong, the 46th ruler of Unified Silla. Today most of the temple's buildings have been lost and only the site remains, with foundation stones of structures such as the main hall (Geumdang), a lotus-carved stone Buddha pedestal, a three-story stone pagoda, a twin-headed turtle-shaped stele base and flagpole supports still exposed. The site of the main hall is an enclosed, double-layered structure with outer and inner rows of columns and gomagi foundation stones, and, like the main hall site at Gameunsa Temple and the Daeungjeon Hall at Bulguksa Temple, it shows the typical building structure of the Unified Silla period (8th–9th centuries), with entrances and stairs on all four sides. The twin-headed turtle-shaped stele base, in which two tortoises support the body of a stele, is a uniquely shaped monument; this form has been found at only four temple sites in Korea.* Seven rounds of excavation have been carried out to establish the scale and layout of the temple site, revealing building sites, stone foundations, a central staircase, a dapdo** and a pond site dating from the Unified Silla to Joseon periods. In addition, the site of a stele pavilion built to house a memorial stele was found on high ground within the temple site, helping to confirm the scale and status of the temple. * The other three are the sites of Sungboksa, Changnimsa and Mujangsa temples, all located in the Gyeongju area. ** A broad path leading from the temple's central gate to the main hall site.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Pohang, Gyeongbuk

Designation

Historic Site · 사적