Silleuksa Temple

SOUTH KOREA, Gyeonggi, Yeoju

Silleuksa, meaning Temple of the Bridle with Magical Power, is the only temple in Korea built along a river. According to legend, it was founded by a famous monk, Master Wonhyo, during the rule of King Jinpyeong (reigned 579–631) of the Silla dynasty. The temple became well-known following the death of the famous Master Naong in 1376. The temple was enlarged, burned, and repaired several times, including in 1440 and 1472.
The main structures of the temple include the Ultimate Bliss Hall, Patriarch Hall, Judgment Hall, sutra repository, bell pavilion, multi-tier brick pagoda, multi-tier stone pagoda, bell-shaped stone stupa of Master Naong, and stone lantern.
The Ultimate Bliss Hall, which contains a statue of Amitabha Buddha, was built in 1678 during the Joseon dynasty. It has a single-eave hip-and-gable roof and is three bays wide. The multi-tier stone pagoda is located in front of the hall. It is a marble pagoda with multiple tiers built in 975 during the Goryeo dynasty. The pagoda stands on a rectangular base carved with lotuses. The upper base has a middle stone carved with decorated corner pilasters. The pagoda body only has carvings of corner pilasters and the spire is no longer extant. The Patriarch Hall was constructed in the early Choson dynasty (1392–1910) and is one of the oldest buildings at the temple. It was built to pay tribute to three great masters, Naong, Muhak, and Jigong. The portrait of Master Naong is enshrined at the center of the hall, flanked by portraits of the other two masters.