Silsangsa Temple Site, Buan and Silsangsa Temple TodayThe Silsangsa Temple Site, located in Junggye-ri, Byeonsan-myeon, Buan-gun, dates back to the United Silla dynasty. The site had remained abandoned until 1995 when a restoration began to build Mireukjeon Hall, Samseonggak Shrine, and Yosachae Building.
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LocationSan 93-1, Gunmak-gil Byeonsan-myeon, Buan-gun, Jeollabuk-do
- CategoryCultural Heritage / Tangible Cultural Heritage
- Korean부안 실상사지
- Chinese扶安實相寺址
- Nickname실상사 터|부안 실상사 터
- FieldReligion / Buddhism
- Contents TypeHistoric Site / Site
- LocationSan 93-1, Gunmak-gil Byeonsan-myeon, Buan-gun, Jeollabuk-do
- Definition
- The site of a temple dating back to the Unified Silla Period in Junggye-ri, Byeonsan-myeon, Buan-gun, Jeollabuk-do.
- Development
- It is said that Silsangsa Temple in Buan was founded by Monk Choeui in 689 (9th year of the reign of King Sinmun of Silla), and that Prince Hyoryeong stayed here and had the buildings remodeled during the Joseon Period. In the Buddhist establishment list of Buan-hyeon in Sinjeung Donggukyeojiseungram (Revised edition of the Culture and Geographic Records about Korea/published in 1530), it is written that “Naesosa Temple, Dosolsa Temple, Uisangam Hermitage, Cheongnimsa Temple, Wonhyobang Cave, Busauibangjang (meditation site), Mususa Temple, and Silsangsa Temple are all located in Byeonsan.” In addition, in the Buddhist temple list of Buan-hyeon, Jeolla-do in Yeojidoseo (Cultural Geography of Korea), it is recorded that “Silsangsa Temple is located below below Byeonsan Yongchu Pond, 50-ri away in the west to Buan-hyeon.” Judging from these records, it is guessed that the temple continued to exist until the late Joseon period.
Naesosa Sajeokgi (A Record about Naesosa Temple), which was written in 1922, states, “Silsangsa Temple was founded by Monk Choeui 1,124 years ago, Prince Hyoryeong had the buildings remodeled 500 years ago with financial support from the royal family, Monk Yeongheo had the buildings remodeled 280 years ago, its buildings include Chilseongak Hall (The Hall for the seven stars of the Big Dipper believed to control people’s children and lifespan), Judgment Hall, and Main Hall, two hundred pieces of woodblock of Lotus Sutra are kept at the Main Hall, and the standing clay Buddha Statue is about 2.1 m tall.” It is said that during the colonial period Park Jungbin, the founder of Won-Buddhism, trained himself at Silsangsa Temple. The temple buildings such as Inungjeon Hall, Nahanjeon Hall, Sansingak Shrine, and Temple Dormitory were completely destroyed by fire during the Korean War.
- Location
- The site of Silsangsa Temple in Buan is located between Cheonhwangbong Peak behind Nine Valleys of Bongrae of Naebyeonsan Mountain and Injangam Rock, i.e. in 164, Junggye-ri, Byeonsan-myeon, Buan-gun, Jeollabuk-do, and to the southwest of Bongnae jeongsa Pavilion of Won-Buddhism at 122 Silsang-gil Byeonsan-myeon, Buan-gun. There, when entering Saja-dong, Junggye-ri, Byeonsan-myeon, Buan-gun from the Local Road No. 736, one can find the ticket office of the Byeonsanbando National Park. The site is about 600 m in the direction of Jikso Falls from the ticket office.
- Background and Result of Excavation and Investigation
- An excavation survey was conducted for four months from March 1998 to obtain basic materials for the restoration of Silsangsa Temple with focus on its size, the period of foundation, and the overall characteristics. The survey was conducted on the four building sites, but the site had been seriously disturbed to the extent that it was difficult to check out its overall characteristics. Meanwhile, Building Site Nos. 1 and 3 were ascertained to measure 5 kan*[*1 kan refers to the length of space between two columns. It comes to 210 cm - 300 cm.] (façade) by 3 kan (sides) each.
Relics unearthed include white porcelain bowls, dishes, and cups and flat roof tiles engraved with decorative patterns of converging straight lines and waves. A piece of concave roof-end tile found on the site shows engraved Chinese characters meaning the first year of the reign of Emperor Shenzong of the Ming Dynasty of China, which corresponds to 1573 (6th year of the reign of King Seonjo of Joseon). Most of the relics unearthed were those dating back to the mid-Joseon Period or later, and nothing associated with the year 689 .It is guessed that the area covered by the survey was not the site of the buildings of the temple’s foundation.
- Current Status
- The work for restoration of the temple was started in 1995. Mireukjeon Hall, Samseonggak, monks’ living quarters, and lavatories have been built by 2020. Left at the foot of the mountain to the northwest of the site are the retaining wall, cornerstones, platform stones, etc., which are assumed to have been part of Stupa Hall. Many roof tile pieces are scattered here and there on the site. Meanwhile, there is Bongnae Jeongsa Pavilion built on Jebeop Seongji (Sacred Place), known as a holy place for Won-Buddhism within the site of Silsangsa Temple. There are two sarira stupa in the courtyard of Bongnae Jeongsa Pavilion. They are said to have been relocated from Stupa Hall and designated as Jeollabuk-do Monument No. 77 in September 9, 1986. The designated area is 1,696㎡.
- Historical Significance
- Silsangsa Temple, which is known to have been founded during the Unified Silla Period, was one of the four leading temples in Byeonsan Peninsula. Retaining walls, building foundation stones, and roof tile pieces are still left, indicating that it is the site of a temple. Mireukjeon Hall, Samseonggak, etc. were newly built on the site. A copy of Worincheongangjigok (a religious song compiled under the command of King Sejong for his late Queen Soheon to wish her peace and bliss/Treasure No. 398) had been found from inside a Buddha statue at the temple, which was destroyed by fire during the Korean War.