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Buseoksa Temple

  • Buddhist Mountain Monasteries in Korea
  • Sansa, Buddhist Mountain Monasteries in Korea

Buseoksa Temple

Introduction Natural Environment History Temple Layout Cultural Properties Information
About Buseoksa Temple
    • Buseoksa Temple Buseoksa Temple
    • Buseoksa Temple, situated on the mountainside of Bonghwangsan Mountain in Yeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, belongs to the 16th diocese of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism.
      Bonghwansan Mountain is an exceptionally propitious site as its shape is reminiscent of the phoenix. The temple site may not be very large, but when seen from above, the area does not seem too dense or give off a sense of confinement as the buildings are spread out across the site, partitioned by a tall stone platform.
  • Buseoksa is the first temple founded by Great Monk Uisang of Silla upon returning home from studying in China in 676 during the Tang Dynasty. The reason the temple was named, “Buseoksa,” meaning a floating or suspended stone, was that there was a large rock to the west of Muryangsujeon, and it was suspended off from the rock underneath. There is also a tale regarding the relations between Great Monk Uisang and Seonmyo.
  • Muryangsujeon of Buseoksa TempleMuryangsujeon of Buseoksa Temple Three-Story Stone Pagoda of Buseoksa TempleThree-Story Stone Pagoda of Buseoksa Temple Stone lantern in front of MuryangsujeonStone lantern in front of Muryangsujeon
    • Buseoksa, one of the ten Hwaeom (Flower Garland) temples founded by Great Monk Uisang, has long been considered the main temple of the Flower Garland Sect of Korea. It has been protected and maintained by the disciples of Great Monk Uisang since its establishment. Great Monk Uisang began staying here in 676, and did not leave until he entered into Nirvana. This was also the case for his disciples who followed his Dharma.
      At Buseoksa, all the halls and shrines are considered the exemplary traditional Korean architectural structures. The heights of all the buildings, stone pagodas and stone lanterns were varied, and they were arranged into a layout that was ideal for spiritual cultivation and as Bodhi-mandala. Chwihyeonam Hermitage, which is famous as the site of spiritual cultivation of Great Monk Samyeong, had been used as a Seon center even until recently, but at present, it is considered one of the mountain hermitages.
    • View from the temple View from the temple
  • Muryangsujeon (National Treasure No. 18) is the oldest wooden building in Korea, following Geungnakjeon of Bongjeongsa in Andong, and the mural of Josadang (National Treasure No. 46) is estimated to be the oldest mural on a wooden building. Such cultural assets give insight into the long history of Buseoksa Temple.
    Recently, Seongbo Exhibition Center was established within the temple premises to display the valuable cultural assets of Buseoksa.