Difference between revisions of "Beopjusa" - New World Encyclopedia
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| − | '''Beopjusa''' one of Korea's oldest Buddhist temples, founded in 553 C.E., | + | '''Beopjusa''' one of Korea's oldest Buddhist temples, founded in 553 C.E., and has been active for more than 1400 years. The name of the temple means 'Buddha stays here'. Situated on the slopes of [[Songnisan]] within Songnisan National Park, at times during its history Beopjusa has been home to more than 3000 monks. Since the 8th century, the temple has been designated as central temple for worship and teaching of the Maitreya Buddha. In recent times, Beopjusa has become known for its 33 meter tall gold statue of Buddha. |
==History of Beopjusa== | ==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. | + | '''Beopjusa''' founded in 553 C.E., in the Shilla Kingdom during the 14th year of King Jinheung's reign, just 24 years after Buddhism was first introduced to the Silla Kingdom, temple construction began under the leadership of the monk Uisinchosa. 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. | + | However, almost of them were burned to the ground during the Japanese invasion of 1592, but, as the Confucian Joseon court refused to support the 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== | ==A Temple worshiping the Maitreya== | ||
| − | From its early days, Beopjusa has been | + | From its early days, Beopjusa has been associated with [[Beopsang]] thought and the worship of the [[Maitreya Buddha]] - 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 worship of 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. | 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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'''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. | '''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. | ||
| − | + | Legend states that [[Taejo of Joseon|Taejo]], the founder of the Joseon Dynasty retired to a spot near Beopjusa frustrated by his sons' fighting for power. | |
| + | It is also said that King Sejo directed that renovations be made on Beopjusa as a great temple on Soknisan, | ||
| + | ==Palsongjeon Pagoda== | ||
| + | Palsangjeon Hall (팔상전 捌相殿) Eight Paintings Hall, a large wooden pagoda, was originally built in 553 when the temple was founded. A copy of the pagoda was built in Nara, Japan, 50 years later, and is still standing. The Palsangjeon Hall currently at Beopjusa is a reconstruction dating from 1624 and has been preserved since that time, making it the oldest wooden pagoda in Korea. | ||
| + | The five-story pagoda has large murals describing Sakyumuni Buddha's life. A walk around the hall gives Buddhists the chance to remember the important events in Buddha's life. In addition to the paintings, there are fours statues of Sakyamuni, facing different directions, with different hand positions—fearless in the Buddha facing east, the west Buddha is Turning the Wheel of Dharma, the south Buddha is touching the earth and the north Buddha is lying down in a dying pose, very rare in Korea. | ||
| + | |||
| + | The hall also features 500 small white statues of Buddha sometimes called disciples of Buddha, but they are really images of Buddha himself, made with the 32 aspects and 80 features of the Buddha, including curled hair, a bump on the head and long ears. | ||
| + | ==Other Features of Beopjusa== | ||
| + | <gallery> | ||
| + | Image:Palsangjeon_Hall.JPG|Palsangjeon Pagoda. | ||
| + | Image:Golden Maitreya Statue at Beopjusa.JPG|Golden Maitreya Statue. | ||
| + | </gallery> | ||
| + | *Daeungjeon Hall (대웅보전 大雄寶殿 Hall of Great Light), built in two stories, one of the largest Buddha Halls in Korea, is a shrine to Vairocana, Sakyamuni and Rochana. | ||
| + | *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. | ||
| + | *A 2.7 meter iron pot, large enough to cook 80 sacks of rice, which is reported to have been used to serve the 3,000 monks and pilgrims housed at Beopjusa during the Goryeo Dynasty. | ||
| + | *Sacheonwangmun Gate (사천왕문 四天王門) | ||
| + | *Ssangsajaseokdeung (Two Lion Stone Lantern) (쌍사자석등) with two standing lions holding the stone lamp | ||
| + | *A special golden path covered with baked bits of yellow earth leads through the forest on Songrisan to the entrance of Beopjusa temple. | ||
| + | *Seokyeonji Lotus Flower Pond | ||
| + | *A picture of Buddha sitting on a lotus flower, carved in rock. | ||
| + | Memorial Stupa for the Most Reverend Jigwang of Beopcheonsa temple, National Museum of Korea, Seoul National Treasure #101 | ||
| + | ==Beopjusa Temple today== | ||
| + | Beopjusa Temple in [[Naesongni-myeon]], [[Boeun County]], in the province of [[Chungcheongbuk-do]], [[South Korea]] is is one of 25 district headquarter temples for the [[Jogye Order]] of [[Korean Buddhism]], Korean's largest Buddhist sect, with 27 temples under its supervision. Currently the Beopjusa Temple complex has about 30 buildings, and hosts a Songnichukjeon Festival every year in April of the Lunar calendar. The temple is home to 4 national treasures and a number of local treasures. | ||
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| − | + | which include Palsangjeon , , Ilju Gate (일주문 一柱門), Geumgang Gate (금강문 金剛門), Sacheonwang Gate, | |
| − | The | + | |
| + | About two kilometers outside the temple gates stands the tree that | ||
| + | |||
| + | King Sejo of Joseon, the second son of Sejong the Great is said to have gained the throne by murdering his nephew; later in life he was afflicted with a skin condition and went to the Songrisan Mountains to search for healing of his body and spirit. On the way to Beopjusa, he encountered his daughter, who had tried to prevent him from killing his nephew, and then fled for her life. | ||
| + | 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. | ||
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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. | 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. | ||
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==History== | ==History== | ||
| − | + | ||
[[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. | ||
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Revision as of 15:17, 19 August 2007
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Beopjusa one of Korea's oldest Buddhist temples, founded in 553 C.E., and has been active for more than 1400 years. The name of the temple means 'Buddha stays here'. Situated on the slopes of Songnisan within Songnisan National Park, at times during its history Beopjusa has been home to more than 3000 monks. Since the 8th century, the temple has been designated as central temple for worship and teaching of the Maitreya Buddha. In recent times, Beopjusa has become known for its 33 meter tall gold statue of Buddha.
History of Beopjusa
Beopjusa founded in 553 C.E., in the Shilla Kingdom during the 14th year of King Jinheung's reign, just 24 years after Buddhism was first introduced to the Silla Kingdom, temple construction began under the leadership of the monk Uisinchosa. 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 Joseon court refused to support the 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 associated with Beopsang thought and the worship of the Maitreya Buddha - 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 worship of 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.
Legend states that Taejo, the founder of the Joseon Dynasty retired to a spot near Beopjusa frustrated by his sons' fighting for power.
It is also said that King Sejo directed that renovations be made on Beopjusa as a great temple on Soknisan,
Palsongjeon Pagoda
Palsangjeon Hall (팔상전 捌相殿) Eight Paintings Hall, a large wooden pagoda, was originally built in 553 when the temple was founded. A copy of the pagoda was built in Nara, Japan, 50 years later, and is still standing. The Palsangjeon Hall currently at Beopjusa is a reconstruction dating from 1624 and has been preserved since that time, making it the oldest wooden pagoda in Korea.
The five-story pagoda has large murals describing Sakyumuni Buddha's life. A walk around the hall gives Buddhists the chance to remember the important events in Buddha's life. In addition to the paintings, there are fours statues of Sakyamuni, facing different directions, with different hand positions—fearless in the Buddha facing east, the west Buddha is Turning the Wheel of Dharma, the south Buddha is touching the earth and the north Buddha is lying down in a dying pose, very rare in Korea.
The hall also features 500 small white statues of Buddha sometimes called disciples of Buddha, but they are really images of Buddha himself, made with the 32 aspects and 80 features of the Buddha, including curled hair, a bump on the head and long ears.
Other Features of Beopjusa
- Palsangjeon Hall.JPG
Palsangjeon Pagoda.
- Golden Maitreya Statue at Beopjusa.JPG
Golden Maitreya Statue.
- Daeungjeon Hall (대웅보전 大雄寶殿 Hall of Great Light), built in two stories, one of the largest Buddha Halls in Korea, is a shrine to Vairocana, Sakyamuni and Rochana.
- 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.
- A 2.7 meter iron pot, large enough to cook 80 sacks of rice, which is reported to have been used to serve the 3,000 monks and pilgrims housed at Beopjusa during the Goryeo Dynasty.
- Sacheonwangmun Gate (사천왕문 四天王門)
- Ssangsajaseokdeung (Two Lion Stone Lantern) (쌍사자석등) with two standing lions holding the stone lamp
- A special golden path covered with baked bits of yellow earth leads through the forest on Songrisan to the entrance of Beopjusa temple.
- Seokyeonji Lotus Flower Pond
- A picture of Buddha sitting on a lotus flower, carved in rock.
Memorial Stupa for the Most Reverend Jigwang of Beopcheonsa temple, National Museum of Korea, Seoul National Treasure #101
Beopjusa Temple today
Beopjusa Temple in Naesongni-myeon, Boeun County, in the province of Chungcheongbuk-do, South Korea is is one of 25 district headquarter temples for the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, Korean's largest Buddhist sect, with 27 temples under its supervision. Currently the Beopjusa Temple complex has about 30 buildings, and hosts a Songnichukjeon Festival every year in April of the Lunar calendar. The temple is home to 4 national treasures and a number of local treasures.
which include Palsangjeon , , Ilju Gate (일주문 一柱門), Geumgang Gate (금강문 金剛門), Sacheonwang Gate,
About two kilometers outside the temple gates stands the tree that
King Sejo of Joseon, the second son of Sejong the Great is said to have gained the throne by murdering his nephew; later in life he was afflicted with a skin condition and went to the Songrisan Mountains to search for healing of his body and spirit. On the way to Beopjusa, he encountered his daughter, who had tried to prevent him from killing his nephew, and then fled for her life.
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.
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.
History
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.
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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