Sogwangsa
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Sogwangsa | |
![]() Sogwang Temple in the 1930s | |
Korean name | |
---|---|
Chosŏn'gŭl | 석왕사 |
Hancha | |
Revised Romanization | Seogwangsa |
McCune–Reischauer | Sŏgwangsa |
Sŏgwang-sa (Korean: 석왕사) is a Korean Buddhist temple located in Sŏlbong-ri in Kosan County, Kangwon Province, North Korea. Once one of Korea's largest Buddhist temples, the complex was mostly destroyed by US bombing in 1951, and today it lies in ruins; however, it is slated to be reconstructed in coming years. It is listed as National Treasure #94
History
[edit]Founded at the end of the Koryo dynasty in 1386, work continued on the temple into the Choson era. Consisting of over 50 buildings, the temple was once one of Korea's largest. During the Japanese occupation, the temple, known under its Japanized name as Shakuō-ji, became a popular tourist destination on the Seoul-Wonsan railway.
Unfortunately, almost all of the historic buildings in the temple compound have been destroyed; many were obliterated by a 1951 US bombing raid during the Korean War, and the remaining buildings, including a few reconstructions, were later destroyed by heavy flooding in 1986. The temple's many original art treasures, likewise, were incinerated in the raid.. Today, there are only four buildings standing, three of which are reconstructions; only Jogye Gate remains of the original buildings. Only foundation stones remain of the rest of the temple's structures. Some reconstruction work is set to be completed by Kim Il Sung's 100th birthday in 2012.
Composition
[edit]The temple was arranged with two main axes (known as the west and east Courts), with shrines, living quarters, and kitchens arranged around a courtyard fronting a main prayer hall. The east court was the larger of the two, and contained the temple's most impressive buildings and most valuable pieces of art.
The temple's entrance is through Puri Gate (
In the courtyard between Jogye Gate and the ruins of the east court stands Sŏlsŏngdong Pavilion (
Of the grand east court, only the reconstructed Hoji Gate (
Taeung Hall (
Of the smaller west court, only foundation stones remain. Ŭngjin Hall (
Hidden behind the ruins of the western court is the temple cemetery, including many stele commemorating the temple's greatest monks. The gravestones are listed as Cultural asset #311.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]External links
[edit]Media related to Sogwangsa at Wikimedia Commons