Geumtapsa
Encyclopedia
Geumtapsa or Geumtap Temple (Heavenly-Lantern Mountain Golden-Pagoda Temple), a Korean Buddhist Temple
, is located at the base of Cheondeungsan (mountain) in Podu-myeon (township), Goheung-gun (county), Jeollanam-do (province), South Korea
. The temple is known for being a Bhikkhuni (Buddhist nun)
refuge and is affiliated with the Jogye Order
of Korean Buddhism.
, Geumtapsa dates back to the Three Kingdoms period (57BC - AD668)
when it was established as a branch of Songgwangsa
(Temple).
.
It is said to have been burned down in 1597 during Imjin wars and to have been reconstructed in 1604. Records show that the building was either repaired or rebuilt in 1846, the 12th year of the reign of Joseon's King Heonjong (1849-63)
.
Geungnakjeon has a hipped-and-gabled roof with the eaves of the roof being supported by clusters of brackets. The multi-bracketing is typical of late-Joseon architecture.
Geungnakjeon has a Sanshin painting, the "Assembly of Spirits" where Sanshin (the Mountain Spirit), is depicted wearing a "flying scarf" like an immortal angel and holding a Daoist "peach of immortality", both of which are extremely rare (usually only features of his attendants).
Temple halls dedicated to Amitabha
Buddha are usually named Geungnakjeon or Paradise Hall.
) that surrounds the temple.
Nutmeg trees are only found in the southern part of Korea. Average height of trees found in the forest is 10m/33ft but can grow to about 25m/82ft in height. Its needle-like leaves are thick, small, and sharp at the point. These trees bloom in spring and bear long and round seeds in fall. A good source of lumber, the trees have gradually disappeared and now only a few groves in Jeju-do, and some areas of the Jeollabuk-do and Jeollanam-do (provinces), which have been designated Natural Monuments, remain.
This forest of nutmeg trees at Geumtapsa Temple is at the mid-slope level of Mt. Cheondeungsan and is said to have been planted in 637, the sixth year of Queen Seondeok ( 632-647)
of the Silla Kingdom (57B.C.-A.D.935)
.
The forest of nutmeg trees at Geumtapsa Temple in Goheung is designated and conserved as a Natural Monument because of its great value to scientific research.
depicting a unique composition with the three Buddha
s of the past, present and future, flanked by major bosals depicted on a wide canvas.
Gwaebul refers to a large Buddhist painting that is hung outside the temple hall for outdoor sermons during Buddhist ceremonies or services. The painting is enshrined in Geumtapsa Temple, and is 506 cm/16.6ft in length and 648 cm/21.3ft in width.
The composition of the painting is rather simple as only the major bosals are depicted, without guardians such as Sacheonwang (Four Guardian Kings). The painting is divided horizontally into three parts where each of the three Buddhas of the past, present and future are drawn on a large scale. The attendants are depicted at the top and bottom of the painting. The main Buddha is depicted with a genial face and small features.
The yukgye (protuberance on top of Buddha’s head) is clearly shown in the shape of a sangtu (topknot) spread out to the side, and there is a large-sized gyeju (jeweled hair ornament) placed on top of the hair. The Buddha is depicted with broad, square shoulders and chigyeon (flower-shape decoration) around his right ankle.
The gwaebulgwe (storage box), in which the painting is stored, was made in 1697, around 100 years before the painting. The painting is a collaborative work of Bihyeon and Kwaeyun in the 2nd year of King Jeongjo of the Joseon Dynasty (1778).
It is an invaluable piece showing the characteristics of the paintings drawn in the late 18th century, such as the Buddha with small features and broad, square shoulders, a yukgye that is spread out to the side, a large-sized gyeju on top of the hair and a chigyeon around the ankle.
Korean Buddhism
Korean 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...
, is located at the base of Cheondeungsan (mountain) in Podu-myeon (township), Goheung-gun (county), Jeollanam-do (province), South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
. The temple is known for being a Bhikkhuni (Buddhist nun)
Bhikkhuni
A bhikkhuni or bhikṣuṇī is a fully ordained female Buddhist monastic. Male monastics are called bhikkhus. Both bhikkhunis and bhikkhus live by the vinaya...
refuge and is affiliated with the Jogye Order
Jogye Order
The Jogye Order, officially the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism is the representative order of traditional Korean Buddhism with roots that date back 1,200 years to Unified Silla National Master Doui, who brought Seon and the practice taught by the Sixth Patriarch, Huineng, from China about 820...
of Korean Buddhism.
Origin
Originally built in the 7th century by Buddhist Monk WonhyoWonhyo
Wonhyo was one of the leading thinkers, writers and commentators of the Korean Buddhist tradition. Essence-Function , a key concept in East Asian Buddhism and particularly that of Korean Buddhism, was refined in the syncretic philosophy and worldview of Wonhyo.As one of the most eminent...
, Geumtapsa dates back to the Three Kingdoms period (57BC - AD668)
Three Kingdoms of Korea
The Three Kingdoms of Korea refer to the ancient Korean kingdoms of Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla, which dominated the Korean peninsula and parts of Manchuria for much of the 1st millennium...
when it was established as a branch of Songgwangsa
Songgwangsa
Songgwangsa , one of the three jewels of Korean Buddhism, is located in Jeollanam-do on the Korean Peninsula...
(Temple).
Tangible Cultural Property #102 (Goheung-gun)
Geungnakjeon Hall of Geumtapsa Temple (Geumtapsageungnakjeon) is constructed in the style of the later years of the Joseon era (1392-1910)Joseon
Joseon, Chosŏn, Choseon or Chosun are English spellings of the Korean *word for "Korea". It may refer to:*Korea*Gojoseon, the first Korean kingdom, from 2333 BC to 108 BC.*Joseon Dynasty of Korea, from AD 1392 to 1910....
.
It is said to have been burned down in 1597 during Imjin wars and to have been reconstructed in 1604. Records show that the building was either repaired or rebuilt in 1846, the 12th year of the reign of Joseon's King Heonjong (1849-63)
Heonjong of Joseon
Heonjong of Joseon was the 24th king of the Joseon Dynasty of Korea. He was the grandson of Sunjo, and his mother was Queen Sinjeong of the Pungyang Jo clan. His father was Prince Munjo, posthumously named Ikjong, who died at the age of 21 before becoming king. Heonjong was born three-years before...
.
Geungnakjeon has a hipped-and-gabled roof with the eaves of the roof being supported by clusters of brackets. The multi-bracketing is typical of late-Joseon architecture.
Geungnakjeon has a Sanshin painting, the "Assembly of Spirits" where Sanshin (the Mountain Spirit), is depicted wearing a "flying scarf" like an immortal angel and holding a Daoist "peach of immortality", both of which are extremely rare (usually only features of his attendants).
Temple halls dedicated to Amitabha
Amitabha
Amitābha is a celestial buddha described in the scriptures of the Mahāyāna school of Buddhism...
Buddha are usually named Geungnakjeon or Paradise Hall.
Natural Monument #239
One of the more prominent features at Geumtapsa is the Forest of Nutmeg Yew (torreya nuciferaTorreya nucifera
Torreya nucifera is a slow-growing, coniferous tree native to southern Japan and to South Korea's Jeju Island. It is also called ' or Japanese nutmeg-yew.-Description:It grows to 15-25 m tall with a trunk up to 1.5 m diameter...
) that surrounds the temple.
Nutmeg trees are only found in the southern part of Korea. Average height of trees found in the forest is 10m/33ft but can grow to about 25m/82ft in height. Its needle-like leaves are thick, small, and sharp at the point. These trees bloom in spring and bear long and round seeds in fall. A good source of lumber, the trees have gradually disappeared and now only a few groves in Jeju-do, and some areas of the Jeollabuk-do and Jeollanam-do (provinces), which have been designated Natural Monuments, remain.
This forest of nutmeg trees at Geumtapsa Temple is at the mid-slope level of Mt. Cheondeungsan and is said to have been planted in 637, the sixth year of Queen Seondeok ( 632-647)
Queen Seondeok of Silla
Queen Seondeok of Silla reigned as Queen of Silla, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, from 632 to 647. She was Silla's twenty-seventh ruler, and its first reigning queen...
of the Silla Kingdom (57B.C.-A.D.935)
Silla
Silla was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, and one of the longest sustained dynasties in...
.
The forest of nutmeg trees at Geumtapsa Temple in Goheung is designated and conserved as a Natural Monument because of its great value to scientific research.
Treasure #1344
Buddhist painting of Geumtapsa Temple (Geumtapsagwaebultaeng) is a painting, or gwaebul, from the King Jeongjo period of the Joseon EraJeongjo 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...
depicting a unique composition with the three Buddha
Buddha
In Buddhism, buddhahood is the state of perfect enlightenment attained by a buddha .In Buddhism, the term buddha usually refers to one who has become enlightened...
s of the past, present and future, flanked by major bosals depicted on a wide canvas.
Gwaebul refers to a large Buddhist painting that is hung outside the temple hall for outdoor sermons during Buddhist ceremonies or services. The painting is enshrined in Geumtapsa Temple, and is 506 cm/16.6ft in length and 648 cm/21.3ft in width.
The composition of the painting is rather simple as only the major bosals are depicted, without guardians such as Sacheonwang (Four Guardian Kings). The painting is divided horizontally into three parts where each of the three Buddhas of the past, present and future are drawn on a large scale. The attendants are depicted at the top and bottom of the painting. The main Buddha is depicted with a genial face and small features.
The yukgye (protuberance on top of Buddha’s head) is clearly shown in the shape of a sangtu (topknot) spread out to the side, and there is a large-sized gyeju (jeweled hair ornament) placed on top of the hair. The Buddha is depicted with broad, square shoulders and chigyeon (flower-shape decoration) around his right ankle.
The gwaebulgwe (storage box), in which the painting is stored, was made in 1697, around 100 years before the painting. The painting is a collaborative work of Bihyeon and Kwaeyun in the 2nd year of King Jeongjo of the Joseon Dynasty (1778).
It is an invaluable piece showing the characteristics of the paintings drawn in the late 18th century, such as the Buddha with small features and broad, square shoulders, a yukgye that is spread out to the side, a large-sized gyeju on top of the hair and a chigyeon around the ankle.