Ganwolsa Temple Site

The site of Ganwolsa Temple lies on the eastern side of Ganwolsan Mountain, at an elevation of about 215 m; after the temple fell into disuse, most of the surrounding area came to be used as farmland. An academic excavation was carried out in 1984, after which the site was maintained in its present form. The excavation confirmed the remains of buildings, a main hall, a retaining platform, column base stones, long foundation stones, and two three-storey stone pagodas. The main hall site measures three kan across the front and three kan in depth; a standing bronze Buddha image and other Buddhist statues were excavated there, along with various roof tiles and fragments of earthenware and porcelain. Two three-storey stone pagodas stand to the north and south in front of the main hall site. Compared with other temples, the distance between the main hall and the pagodas is narrow, while the distance between the two pagodas is wide. In addition, the base stones of the pagodas are set higher than those of the main hall, which is presumed to be due to the lie of the land. The pagodas are typical Unified Silla-period three-storey stone pagodas; on the first-storey body stone of each are carved images of Inwang, guardian figures, together with door shapes. Inwang is one of the divine guardians who protect the Buddhist law, and is also called Geumgang-yeoksa, or Vajra guardian. At the edges of the roof stones, holes remain where wind bells were once hung. The south pagoda closely resembles the north pagoda, but is distinguished by a lock carved within the door shape on its first-storey body stone, and by its reliquary cavity, which is twice as large as that of the north pagoda. The seated stone Buddha image, designated Treasure No. 370, and the two stone pagodas remaining at the temple site are regarded as valuable relics for the study of Buddhist art at the end of the Unified Silla period.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Ulju, Ulsan

Designation

Provincial Monument · 시도기념물