Mungyeong Daeseungsa Temple Samyeon Stone Buddha

The historical record of the Samyeon Stone Buddha of Daeseungsa Temple appears in the Samguk yusa (a history of the Three Kingdoms period compiled at Ingaksa Temple in Gunwi in the seventh year of King Chungnyeol of Goryeo), written by State Preceptor Bogak, the monk Iryeon. According to this record, the ninth year of King Jinpyeong corresponds to the Jeongmi year (587), while Gapsin refers to the forty-sixth year of King Jinpyeong (624), so there is disagreement over exactly when the Samyeon Stone Buddha was made. However, given the specific reference to the ninth year of King Jinpyeong and the tense territorial disputes with Baekje that were taking place in the Gapsin year, it is highly likely that Jeongmi was simply mis-recorded as Gapsin. A further problem is a discrepancy with the Samguk yusa's own account: the text places the site 100 ri east of Jungnyeong Pass, whereas it in fact lies closer to 100 ri west of the pass. This may be because Iryeon, writing the Samguk yusa at Ingaksa Temple in Gunwi, treated the question of direction rather carelessly, though this cannot be confirmed either way. As for the character of the Samyeon Stone Buddha, since the site lies on a route close to Jungnyeong Pass and Gyerimnyeong Pass, an area where Silla and Baekje frequently clashed over territory, it is also thought to have served a state-protecting purpose — proclaiming through religious power that the land belonged to Silla, in order to defend the border.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Mungyeong, Gyeongbuk

Designation

Provincial Tangible Heritage · 시도유형문화유산