Seongbulsa Temple

This temple stands on Taejosan Mountain. There is a tradition that State Preceptor Doseon first founded it during the reign of King Taejo of Goryeo (r. 918–943), but this is not certain. It is also said that Damhye rebuilt it in 1002, the fifth year of King Mokjong of Goryeo, and that King Taejo of Joseon rebuilt it again in 1398 at the urging of the monk Muhak, but neither account is certain either. The temple's buildings include the Daeungjeon Hall at its centre, a shrine to the mountain spirit, and a residential hall where the monks live. No Buddha image is enshrined in the Daeungjeon Hall itself; instead, through a glass window one can see an unfinished standing Buddha image carved into the rock face behind the hall. The hall measures three bays across the front and two bays along the side, and its roof is a hip-and-gable roof, forming the shape of the character 八 ("eight") when viewed from the side. According to legend, when Doseon of Goryeo came to this place, a pair of white cranes carved a Buddha image into the rock face behind where the Daeungjeon Hall now stands and then flew off, and Seongbulsa Temple was built on that spot. Indeed, a faint image of the Buddha can still be seen carved into the rock.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Cheonan, Chungnam

Designation

Cultural Heritage Material · 문화유산자료