Songgwangsa Temple National Master Hall
Songgwangsa Temple National Master Hall (detail)
Songgwangsa Temple National Master Hall (interior)
Songgwangsa Temple National Master Hall (detail)
Songgwangsa Temple National Master Hall
SOUTH KOREA, South Jeolla, Suncheon
The National Master Hall is also known as Compassionate Shade Hall and is located within Songgwangsa Temple. It was built in 1369 during the Goryeo dynasty and it is the oldest structure in the temple. The hall was listed as National Treasure No. 56 in 1962.
The four-by-three bay hall has a single-eave overhanging gable roof. The roof structure is simple yet unusual, with the bow-shaped bracket arms above the column capitals. The design of the coffered ceiling is a special feature of the hall. The depictions of lotus flowers on the ceiling and dragons on the main columns are rare paintings from the early Joseon dynasty (1392–1910). Within the hall there are portraits of the 16 great monks awarded the title of National Master by the imperial palace.
For more details, go to the Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: Architecture M-S, page 1041.
Cite this article:
author = Hsingyun and Youheng and Johnson, Peter and Mankuang and Lancaster, Lewis,
booktitle = {Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: Architecture M-S},
pages = 1041,
title = {{Songgwangsa Temple National Master Hall}},
volume = 3,
year = {2016}}