Suungyodosolcheon Stream

This is the symbolic building of Suungyo, built in 1929. Suungyo is a religion that worships Hananim (God), revering Su-un Choe Je-u, the founder of the Donghak movement, as its patriarch. It once flourished greatly and had its headquarters in Seoul, but differences arose with Cheondogyo over the question of the founding teacher, and in 1925 it relocated to the foot of Geumbyeongsan Mountain in Chumok-ri, Tandong-myeon, Daedeok-gun, South Chungcheong Province. This Cheondan (Altar of Heaven), the head temple of Suungyo, has a floor plan of three bays across the front and two bays to the side. Four-panel flower-lattice doors are fitted to the front and rear; inside, the altar to Heaven stands toward the rear, with a five-storey Geumgang Pagoda placed to its right at the front and a five-storey Muryangsu Pagoda (Pagoda of Infinite Life) to its left. The four interior walls bear carvings of buddhas and bodhisattvas, Taoist immortals, sage-kings, and the Four Heavenly Kings. The roof is a double-eaved hip-and-gable roof, and a plaque reading "Dosolcheon (兜率天)" hangs in the central bay of the building. Japsang, roof-ridge figurines otherwise used only on palace and royal buildings, are placed on the roof to emphasise the building's dignity. The Cheondan building is said to have been designed by Yi Sang-ryong, the head of the religion, and built by Choe Won-sik, who had rebuilt Gyeongbokgung Palace in the late Joseon period.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Yuseong-gu, Daejeon

Designation

Provincial Tangible Heritage · 시도유형문화유산