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Location248, Gaeam-ro Sangseo-myeon, Buan-gun, Jeollabuk-do
- CategoryCultural Heritage / Tangible Cultural Heritage
- Korean부안 개암사 대웅전
- Chinese扶安開岩寺大雄殿
- Nickname부안 개암사 대웅보전
- FieldReligion / Buddhism
- Contents TypeHistoric Site / Building
- Current Location248, Gaeam-ro Sangseo-myeon, Buan-gun, Jeollabuk-do
- Definition
- The main hall of Gaeamsa Temple, built during the Joseon period in Gamgyo-ri, Sangseo-myeon, Buan-gun, Jeollabuk-do.
- Summary
- Gaeamsa Temple is a branch temple of Seonunsa Temple, which is the main temple of the 24th district of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism. The temple is believed to have been founded by Myoryeon in 634 (the 35th year of the reign of King Mu of Baekje), and was renovated in 676 (the 16th year of the reign of King Munmu of Silla) by the Buddhist priests Wonhyo and Uisang while they were staying in a cave under the nearby Ugeumam Boulder. The temple was renovated and reestablished as a large Buddhist temple by the Buddhist monk Wongam, who travelled from Songgwangsa Temple at Jogyesan Mountain to the Wonhyobang (Ugeumam Boulder) in 1276 (the 2nd year of the reign of King Chungnyeol of Goryeo).
It is said that the temple had around thirty buildings in its heyday, including Hwanggeumjeon Hall, Cheongnyeongak Shrine, Cheongheoru Pavilion, Palsangjeon Hall, Eungjindang Hall, and Myeongbujeon Hall. Currently, however, only Daeungjeon Hall, Indeungjeon Hall, Eunghyanggak Shrine, Eungjinjeon Hall, Iljumun Gate, Wolseongdae, and Yosa (temple dormitory) remain. It is also said that Hwanggeumjeon Hall was rebuilt as Daeungjeon Hall.
Generally, a temple’s Daeungjeon Hall, also called Daeungbojeon Hall, enshrines the principal icon of Sakyamuni. However, Daeungjeon Hall of Gaeamsa Temple in Buan has a Buddha Triad composed of Sakyamuni, who makes the Bhumisparsa-mudra (in which the left hand is placed on the stomach, the right hand rests on top of the knees, with the fingers spread downwards in a gesture representing the expulsion of evil), flanked by Manjusri Bodhisattva and Samantabhadra Bodhisattva. These three seated statues are placed on separate pedestals. The hall’s name plaque features the name Daeungbojeon, which was written by Lee Gwang-sa (1705-1777, pen-name: Wongyo). It is not known when the plaque bearing the name “Daeungjeon” was replaced by the current one.
- Location
- Daeungjeon Hall of Gaeamsa Temple is situated in the center of the temple precincts at the following address: 248, Gaeam-ro (714, Gamgyo-ri), Sangseo-myeon, Buan-gun. The hall is flanked by Eungjinjeon Hall, which enshrines statues of the Sixteen Arhat (Jeollabuk-do Tangible Cultural Heritage No. 179), on the left, and Gwangeumjeon Hall on the right.
- Development
- Daeungjeon Hall of Gaeamsa Temple was renovated by Seontan after it burned down in 1414 (the 14th year of the reign of King Taejong). It was repaired by Gyeho in 1636 (the 14th year of the reign of King Injo) and again by Milyeong and Hyejing in 1658 (the 9th year of the reign of King Hyojong), and was dismantled and restored in 1960.
- Forms
- Daeungjeon Hall is considered a representative building of the mid-Joseon period. It is a single-story structure with a half-hipped roof and double-layered eaves, and measures three kan at the front and by three kan at the sides. Its high stylobate was built with long pedestal stones, while cylindrical pillars were erected on the orlo (natural stone foundation) and connected to the lintel. The hall features minheulim style cylindrical columns (whose upper diameter is smaller than that of the bottom), which are redder than the rest of the building. The top part of each column is connected with the lintel, on top of which a member (pyeongbang) is placed to form a crossbeam. Each column has a round headpiece, and the ox tongue and both sides are decorated with a lotus flower design.
The roof of the hall has a profuse bracket system (inner and outer three-chulmok style), comprising three brackets at the center and two at the sides. The ends of the salmicheomcha (ancones), which are placed on the first, second, and third brackets, feature a delicate ox tongue facing upward, and the eaves are supported by hwalju (arched support). As for the doors, the front central door has four partitions, while those at the sides have three partitions. The windows are decorated with a cryptogam design. The hall has a wooden floor (woomulmaru), with two high columns erected in the rear space. The well-shaped ceiling was built from above the coller beam.
- Current Status
- Daeungjeon Hall of Gaeamsa Temple is the main hall of the temple. Since its designation as Treasure No. 292 on January 21, 1963, the hall has been maintained and preserved systematically.
- Historical Significance
- Daeungjeon Hall of Gaeamsa Temple is characterized by columns that seem solid and voluminous compared to the size of the building, lending it a sense of stability. The hall is decorated with splendid designs including a dragon’s head, a phoenix, and a lotus flower under the eaves. The building projects a solemn atmosphere overall.