Donghaksa Temple Samseonggak Shrine

Donghaksa Temple was first built in 724, the 23rd year of King Seongdeok of Unified Silla, under the name Sangwonsa Temple. Samseonggak Shrine houses painted scrolls (taenghwa) of the Three Sages — Chilseong, Sansin and Dokseong. Chilseong represents the Big Dipper and governs human fortune and lifespan; Sansin is an indigenous folk deity of the Korean people, appearing together with a tiger and presiding over wealth; and Dokseong is a being who attained enlightenment alone and became a sage, bestowing blessings on sentient beings in this degenerate latter age. This reflects the way in which, as Buddhism became indigenised in Korea, elements of Taoism, folk belief and Buddhism merged together. Because the objects of worship enshrined here lie outside Buddhism proper, the building is called a gak (pavilion) rather than a jeon (hall).

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Gongju, Chungnam

Designation

Cultural Heritage Material · 문화유산자료