Difference between revisions of "Beopjusa" - New World Encyclopedia
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| − | '''Beopjusa''' one | + | '''Beopjusa''' one of Korea's oldest Buddhist temples, founded in 553 C.E., in the Shilla Kingdom during the 14th year of King Jinheung's reign, is situated on the slopes of [[Songnisan]]within Songnisan National Park. Founded under the leadership of the monk Uisinchosa, just 24 years after Buddhism was first introduced to the Silla Kingdom the temple has been active for more than 1400 years. At times during its history Beopjusa has been home to more than 3000 monks. |
| − | In 776, monks Jinpyo and Youngshim gained the patronage of King Hyegong, and the temple flourished. By the middle of the Joseon Dynasty, the complex contained more than 60 buldings and 70 hermitages. | + | ==History of Beopjusa== |
| + | In 776, monks Jinpyo and Youngshim gained the patronage of King Hyegong, and the temple flourished. In the [[Goryeo]] dynasty, as many as 3,000 monks practiced and lived in Beopjusa. Some of the original structures from 653 stil stand on the temple grounds, including a cistern and iron pot for serving food and water to thousands of monks. Beopjusa thrived as a center for the Jogye Order until the Joseon Dynasty. By the middle of the Joseon Dynasty, the complex contained more than 60 buldings and 70 hermitages, or individual meditation cottages. | ||
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| + | However, almost of them were burned to the ground during the Japanese invasion of 1592, but, as the Confucian court refused to support Buddhist temples, it was more than 30 years before reconstruction begin in 1624, under abbot Byeokam. In its history, Beopjusa has undergone reconstruction 8 times, including a major nationwide reconstruction in 1851. None of the original buildings remain. | ||
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| + | ==A Temple worshiping the Maitreya== | ||
| + | From its early days, Beopjusa has been a place for worship of the Maitreya Bodhisattva - the Buddha who is to come. It is predicted that thousands, even millions of years after Sakyumini's death the Maitreya will come to earth from the spiritual realm where he currently resides. Living with mankind on the earth, he will deliver three important messages, the Three Yonghwa Sermons. Mankind will unite in belief in the Maitreya, live according to the teachings in the Three Yonghwa Sermons and commit acts of goodness, thus securing their salvation. | ||
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| + | In the 8th century the Monk Jinpyo founded Geumsan Temple as a Seminary for teaching the Three Yonghwa Sermons, followed by followed by Beopjusa Temple as a 2nd Seminary and Balyeonsa Temple on Mt. Geumgang as a 3rd Seminary, thus these three temples are known as the central teaching temples for the Three Yonghwa Sermons. | ||
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| + | ==Legends regarding Beopjusa== | ||
| + | '''Holy Relics''' It is said that in the 11th year King Gomin's reign, the king was inspired by the spirit of Beupjusa and sent an Imperial envoy to Tongdosa ordering that some of the holy relics be sent from Tongdosa to Beopjusa, and that are enshrined in a reliquary behind Sujongbong and Neunginjeon. | ||
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| + | It is also said that King Sejo directed that renovations be made on Beopjusa as a great temple on Soknisan, after he received grace regarding his succession to the throne. | ||
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| + | One of the most notable features of Beopjusa is the Palsangjeon Hall, a large wooden pagoda, originally built in 553 when the temple was founded. A copy of the pagoda was built in Nara, Japan, 50 years later, which is still standing. The Palsangjeon Hall currently at Beopjusa is a reconstruction dating from 1624 and has been preserved since that time. | ||
The temple is famous for its 33 meter bronze statue of Buddha, built in 1986 to replace a 27 meter concrete Buddha which had structural problems. | The temple is famous for its 33 meter bronze statue of Buddha, built in 1986 to replace a 27 meter concrete Buddha which had structural problems. | ||
The bronze Buddha was gold-plated in ____, requiring ___ kilograms of gold. | The bronze Buddha was gold-plated in ____, requiring ___ kilograms of gold. | ||
| − | + | ==Beopjusa Temple today== | |
| − | + | Beopjusa Temple is is one of 25 district headquarter temples for the Jogye order, Korean's largest Buddhist sect, with 27 temples under its supervision. Currently Beopjusa Temple has about 30 buildings which include Palsangjeon (팔상전 捌相殿), the oldest wooden pagoda in Korea, Daeung Hall (대웅보전 大雄寶殿), one of the largest Buddha Halls in Korea, Ilju Gate (일주문 一柱門), Geumgang Gate (금강문 金剛門), Sacheonwang Gate, 사천왕문 四天王門 | |
| − | Currently Beopjusa Temple has about 30 buildings which include Palsangjeon (팔상전 捌相殿), the oldest wooden pagoda in Korea, Daeung Hall (대웅보전 大雄寶殿), one of the largest Buddha Halls in Korea, Ilju Gate (일주문 一柱門), Geumgang Gate (금강문 金剛門), Sacheonwang Gate, 사천왕문 四天王門 | ||
2 lion stone lamp (쌍사자석등) | 2 lion stone lamp (쌍사자석등) | ||
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[[Silla]] monk [[Uisin]] completed the initial construction in 653. Historically the temple has been associated with [[Beopsang]] thought and the worship of the [[Maitreya Buddha]]. | [[Silla]] monk [[Uisin]] completed the initial construction in 653. Historically the temple has been associated with [[Beopsang]] thought and the worship of the [[Maitreya Buddha]]. | ||
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[[Palsangjeon]], a wooden pagoda, is renown throughout Korea. Like most of the buildings in the temple compound, Palsangjeon burned to the ground in the [[Hideyoshi's invasions of Korea|Seven Year War]], under going reconstruction in 1624. | [[Palsangjeon]], a wooden pagoda, is renown throughout Korea. Like most of the buildings in the temple compound, Palsangjeon burned to the ground in the [[Hideyoshi's invasions of Korea|Seven Year War]], under going reconstruction in 1624. | ||
Revision as of 13:02, 19 August 2007
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Beopjusa one of Korea's oldest Buddhist temples, founded in 553 C.E., in the Shilla Kingdom during the 14th year of King Jinheung's reign, is situated on the slopes of Songnisanwithin Songnisan National Park. Founded under the leadership of the monk Uisinchosa, just 24 years after Buddhism was first introduced to the Silla Kingdom the temple has been active for more than 1400 years. At times during its history Beopjusa has been home to more than 3000 monks.
History of Beopjusa
In 776, monks Jinpyo and Youngshim gained the patronage of King Hyegong, and the temple flourished. In the Goryeo dynasty, as many as 3,000 monks practiced and lived in Beopjusa. Some of the original structures from 653 stil stand on the temple grounds, including a cistern and iron pot for serving food and water to thousands of monks. Beopjusa thrived as a center for the Jogye Order until the Joseon Dynasty. By the middle of the Joseon Dynasty, the complex contained more than 60 buldings and 70 hermitages, or individual meditation cottages.
However, almost of them were burned to the ground during the Japanese invasion of 1592, but, as the Confucian court refused to support Buddhist temples, it was more than 30 years before reconstruction begin in 1624, under abbot Byeokam. In its history, Beopjusa has undergone reconstruction 8 times, including a major nationwide reconstruction in 1851. None of the original buildings remain.
A Temple worshiping the Maitreya
From its early days, Beopjusa has been a place for worship of the Maitreya Bodhisattva - the Buddha who is to come. It is predicted that thousands, even millions of years after Sakyumini's death the Maitreya will come to earth from the spiritual realm where he currently resides. Living with mankind on the earth, he will deliver three important messages, the Three Yonghwa Sermons. Mankind will unite in belief in the Maitreya, live according to the teachings in the Three Yonghwa Sermons and commit acts of goodness, thus securing their salvation.
In the 8th century the Monk Jinpyo founded Geumsan Temple as a Seminary for teaching the Three Yonghwa Sermons, followed by followed by Beopjusa Temple as a 2nd Seminary and Balyeonsa Temple on Mt. Geumgang as a 3rd Seminary, thus these three temples are known as the central teaching temples for the Three Yonghwa Sermons.
Legends regarding Beopjusa
Holy Relics It is said that in the 11th year King Gomin's reign, the king was inspired by the spirit of Beupjusa and sent an Imperial envoy to Tongdosa ordering that some of the holy relics be sent from Tongdosa to Beopjusa, and that are enshrined in a reliquary behind Sujongbong and Neunginjeon.
It is also said that King Sejo directed that renovations be made on Beopjusa as a great temple on Soknisan, after he received grace regarding his succession to the throne.
One of the most notable features of Beopjusa is the Palsangjeon Hall, a large wooden pagoda, originally built in 553 when the temple was founded. A copy of the pagoda was built in Nara, Japan, 50 years later, which is still standing. The Palsangjeon Hall currently at Beopjusa is a reconstruction dating from 1624 and has been preserved since that time.
The temple is famous for its 33 meter bronze statue of Buddha, built in 1986 to replace a 27 meter concrete Buddha which had structural problems. The bronze Buddha was gold-plated in ____, requiring ___ kilograms of gold.
Beopjusa Temple today
Beopjusa Temple is is one of 25 district headquarter temples for the Jogye order, Korean's largest Buddhist sect, with 27 temples under its supervision. Currently Beopjusa Temple has about 30 buildings which include Palsangjeon (팔상전 捌相殿), the oldest wooden pagoda in Korea, Daeung Hall (대웅보전 大雄寶殿), one of the largest Buddha Halls in Korea, Ilju Gate (일주문 一柱門), Geumgang Gate (금강문 金剛門), Sacheonwang Gate, 사천왕문 四天王門 2 lion stone lamp (쌍사자석등)
Beopjusa has worshipping Maitraya Buddha
From Buddhapia - edit in - Two kilometers before the entrance to Popchusa Temple is a 600-year-old pine tree near the road. Legend tells that it bowed its branches in front of King Sejo. King Sejo was the second son of King Sejong; he succeeded to the throne by murdering his nephew. In old age, he suffered from a severe skin ailment and tried to find solace in the forests of Songnisan Mountain from his ailment as well as his impoverished mind. One day he met a young woman whose two boys called him grandfather. The woman was Princess Uisuk, Sejo's daughter, who had to flee from her father because she had pleaded for the life of the murdered nephew. At this meeting, the king begged for forgiveness and invited his family back to the palace. The princess refused, saying that she preferred her simple life, and she later fled further south. Located on Songnisan Mountain, Popchusa, “The Dharma Staying”Temple, is believed to have been founded in 553 C.E., during the reign of King Chinhung. There is a record which states that, at times, 3,000 monks lived here. In a pavilion on the right side is a 2.7-meter-diameter iron pot dating from the Koryo Dynasty. There is a record which states that the pot was used in the 12th century to serve monks and pilgrims. The Main Hall or Hall of Great Light is a shrine to Vairocana, Sakyamuni and Rochana. Behind these three images there are three paintings of the Buddha accompanied by enlightened disciples. The five-story pagoda, the oldest wooden pagoda in Korea, was originally built in 553. A copy of this pagoda was made in Nara 50 years later at Horiuji. In Japan, the original wooden pagodas are still standing but in Korea they've all been destroyed by numerous invasions. This one was constructed in 1624 and it has been carefully preserved since then. It is a Life of the Buddha”or Eight Paintings” Hall, with large murals telling the story of the life of Sakyamuni Buddha; the paintings are not in chronological order. Around the central pillar, Buddhists circumambulate as a practice of remembering the Buddha and the task before them. There are four statues of Sakyamuni, each one facing one of the four cardinal directions, each one showing a different mudra or hand position. The Buddha facing east has the pose of fearlessness, the one facing west is in the pose of Turning the Wheel of the Dharma (teaching), the one facing south shows the earth -touching pose and the Buddha facing the north is lying down, Buddha in the dying pose- very rare in Korea. In front of the paintings, there are 500 little white Buddhas representing the innumerable beings in all places in all world systems. These images are often called disciples even though they actually have the 32 aspects and 80 features of the Buddha, including the long ears, the curled hair and the bump on the head. Gazing down at the pagoda is a 33-meter-high, 160 ton copper Maitreya Buddha. In 1872, King Kojong's father took the Buddha statue made by Chinp'yo. In 1939, a new statue was started but couldn't be completed. In 1964, the then- President Park made a donation towards a new statue and this allowed the temple to finish the statue with cement. In 1990, the statue was replaced with the current bronze one.
located
head temple of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism in Naesongni-myeon, Boeun County, in the province of Chungcheongbuk-do, South Korea.
History
Silla monk Uisin completed the initial construction in 653. Historically the temple has been associated with Beopsang thought and the worship of the Maitreya Buddha.
Palsangjeon, a wooden pagoda, is renown throughout Korea. Like most of the buildings in the temple compound, Palsangjeon burned to the ground in the Seven Year War, under going reconstruction in 1624.
Legend states that Taejo, the founder of the Joseon Dynasty retired to a spot near Beopjusa frustrated by his sons' fighting for power.
Gallery
- Palsangjeon Hall.JPG
Palsangjeon Pagoda.
- Golden Maitreya Statue at Beopjusa.JPG
Golden Maitreya Statue.
See also
- Korean Buddhist temples
- Korean Buddhism
- Religion in South Korea
- Korean architecture
ReferencesISBN links support NWE through referral fees
External links
- Official site. Retrieved July 29, 2007.
- Asian Historical Architecture: Beopjusa Temple. Retrieved July 29, 2007.
- Korea Temple. Retrieved July 29, 2007.
- Tour2Korea. Retrieved July 29, 2007.
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