Anguksa
Encyclopedia
Anguk-sa is a Korean Buddhist temple situated in Pyongsong
, South Pyongan Province, North Korea
. Built on the slopes of Mt. Pongrin, the temple dates to the Koryo
dynasty, though all of the buildings date to later Joseon dynasty
renovations. The building is registered as National Treasure
#34.
.
#31.
Access to the temple's inner court is through T'aepyŏng Pavilion , located across from the main gate. Though very simple on the outside, is fabulously and ornately painted within. The sighboard of the hall is said to have been painted by King Sunjo of Joseon
. Directly across from the pavilion is Taeung Hall ( "Hall of Great Enlightenment"). As the temple's main prayer hall, Taeung Hall is by far the most impressive of the temple's structures; it is also the largest at 17 by 13 meters long. It has the curious feature of being two-storied in its construction, unlike most other Korean temples of the era, and has two gabled roofs supported by cow's tongue brackets. To the right of Taeung Hall is the temple dormitory; to the left is a library of Buddhist scriptures.
Pyongsong
P'yŏngsŏng is a city in North Korea, the capital city of the province South Pyongan in western North Korea. The city is located about 32 kilometres northeast of Pyongyang, and was formally established in December 1969. It has a population over 100,000....
, South Pyongan Province, North Korea
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
. Built on the slopes of Mt. Pongrin, the temple dates to the Koryo
Koryo
Koryo may refer to:*The Goryeo Dynasty of Korea. It is spelt Koryŏ in McCune-Reischauer Romanization.*Koryo, a pumsae in Taekwondo.*Kōryō, Nara, a town in Japan.*Air Koryo, a North Korean airline company....
dynasty, though all of the buildings date to later Joseon dynasty
Joseon Dynasty
Joseon , was a Korean state founded by Taejo Yi Seong-gye that lasted for approximately five centuries. It was founded in the aftermath of the overthrow of the Goryeo at what is today the city of Kaesong. Early on, Korea was retitled and the capital was relocated to modern-day Seoul...
renovations. The building is registered as National Treasure
National treasures of North Korea
Designated national treasures of North Korea are tangible artifacts, sites, and buildings deemed to have significant historical or artistic value.-No. 1-50:-No. 51-100:-No. 101-150:-No...
#34.
History
Anguk Temple was founded in 503 under the Koryo dynasty. It was later reconstructed in 1419, and again renovated in 1785 under king ChŏngjoJeongjo of Joseon
King Jeongjo was the 22nd ruler of the Joseon Dynasty of Korea. He made various attempts to reform and improve the nation of Joseon. He was preceded by his grandfather King Yeongjo and succeeded by his son King Sunjo...
.
Architecture
The temple has a linear layout. Through the temple's front gate is the outer court, with a monument to the temple's construction and a 9-tiered pagoda dating to the original Koryo temple. The gingko tree located in this yard was planted around 1400, and is listed as Living MonumentNatural monuments of North Korea
This is a partial list of the natural monuments of North Korea. A total of 935 natural monuments have been designated.-No. 1 - 50:-50-100:-No. 101 - 150:-No. 251 - 300:-No. 351 - 400:-See also:*Natural monuments of South Korea...
#31.
Access to the temple's inner court is through T'aepyŏng Pavilion , located across from the main gate. Though very simple on the outside, is fabulously and ornately painted within. The sighboard of the hall is said to have been painted by King Sunjo of Joseon
Sunjo of Joseon
Sunjo was the 23rd king of the Korean Joseon Dynasty.He was born His Royal Highness Prince Yi Gong, the 2nd son of King Jeongjo by his concubine, Lady Subin....
. Directly across from the pavilion is Taeung Hall ( "Hall of Great Enlightenment"). As the temple's main prayer hall, Taeung Hall is by far the most impressive of the temple's structures; it is also the largest at 17 by 13 meters long. It has the curious feature of being two-storied in its construction, unlike most other Korean temples of the era, and has two gabled roofs supported by cow's tongue brackets. To the right of Taeung Hall is the temple dormitory; to the left is a library of Buddhist scriptures.
See also
- National Treasures of North KoreaNational treasures of North KoreaDesignated national treasures of North Korea are tangible artifacts, sites, and buildings deemed to have significant historical or artistic value.-No. 1-50:-No. 51-100:-No. 101-150:-No...
- Korean BuddhismKorean BuddhismKorean Buddhism is distinguished from other forms of Buddhism by its attempt to resolve what it sees as inconsistencies in Mahayana Buddhism. Early Korean monks believed that the traditions they received from foreign countries were internally inconsistent. To address this, they developed a new...
- Korean architectureKorean architectureKorean architecture refers to the built environment of Korea from c. 30,000 BC to the present.-Introduction:From a technical point of view, buildings are structured vertically and horizontally...