Beopjusa Temple Bokcheonam Hermitage Geungnakbojeon Hall, Boeun

Bokcheonam Hermitage was founded, according to temple records, in 720, the nineteenth year of King Seongdeok of Silla. It was renovated by State Preceptor Jeungtong in 918, the first year of King Taejo of Goryeo; by the monk official Dosaeng in 1084, the first year of King Seonjong; by National Preceptor Jajeong in 1107, the second year of King Yejong; and by Seon Master Sinmi in 1449, the thirty-first year of King Sejong of Joseon. Rebuilt several times and lost to fire on more than one occasion, it was reconstructed after a fire by Seon Master Takyung in 1735, the eleventh year of King Yeongjo, and renovated again by Master Chwijun in 1803, the third year of King Sunjo. Geungnakjeon Hall of Bokcheonam was dismantled and restored in 1976. Inside are preserved a statue of the Amitabha Buddha, a painting hung behind it, and a portrait of Great Master Sinmi. The plaque reading 無量壽 (Muryangsu, "Boundless Life") is said to be in the hand of King Gongmin himself. At the time of its original construction the hall was restored on its foundation platform in Joseon-period style; with a hip-and-gable roof and three bays across both front and side, it forms a typical Joseon-period Buddhist hall. What is unusual about this building is its interior high pillars and the Buddhist shrine built around them. Aside from cases such as Buseoksa or Bulgapsa Temple, where the altar is set to the side, the ways of positioning an altar to create worship space inside a Buddhist hall can broadly be divided into three types. It is common to move the interior high pillars to enlarge the worship space in front of the altar; this method is thought to have come into use in Korea from the middle to late Goryeo period, becoming more frequent in the Joseon period, and by the late Joseon period leaving more examples than the alternative method of setting pillars directly at the platform's edge. Where a building's floor plan is small, the altar is instead often simply set against the rear wall. Nearby stand Treasure No. 1416, the Stupa of the Venerable Suam of Bokcheonam, and Treasure No. 1418, the Stupa of the Venerable Hakjo Deunggok of Bokcheonam. Despite being a hip-and-gable building in the multi-bracket (dapo) style typical of the late Joseon period, Geungnakbojeon Hall of Bokcheonam at Beopjusa Temple is unusual in having bracket sets on its side walls as well. This is a rare form built mainly in this region during the middle and late Joseon period, with only around twenty such examples surviving nationwide, and its excellent construction — in its bracket work, interior layout and other features — gives it considerable value in the history of architectural technique.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Boeun, Chungbuk

Designation

Provincial Tangible Heritage · 시도유형문화유산