Seonamsa Temple

SOUTH KOREA, South Jeolla, Suncheon

Seonamsa means Temple of Heavenly Rock. The temple is said to have been built as Bilojaam (Vairocana Temple) by Master Ado in 542 during the Baekje dynasty. In 875 during the Unified Silla dynasty, National Master Doseon rebuilt the temple and gave it its current name. The temple was expanded by National Master Daegak in 1088 during the Goryeo dynasty. It was completely rebuilt in 1660 and 1824 after it was destroyed by fire during the Japanese invasions of Korea (1592–1598).
The structures within the temple include the Bridge of Ascending to Heaven, One Pillar Gate, Great Hero Hall, Perfect Understanding Hall, Hall of Eight Pictures, and three-tier stone pagoda. The Bridge of Ascending to Heaven is an arched bridge measuring 14 m long and 3.5 m wide and made of granite. The three-by-three-bay Great Hero Hall has a single-eave overhanging gable roof. The murals on the exterior of the hall are less sophisticated than those inside the hall, which also contains a statue of Sakyamuni Buddha. In front of the hall there are two three-tier stone twin pagodas from the Unified Silla dynasty (668–935). They were listed as Treasures No. 395 in 1963.
The three-by-three-bay Perfect Understanding Hall was built in 1698, during the Joseon dynasty. It contains a statue of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva. The hall was listed as Provincial Tangible Cultural Property No. 169 in 1990.
Other Treasures and Tangible Cultural Properties include the One Pillar Gate, Hall of Eight Pictures, funerary stupa of National Master Daegak, and a gilt bronze censer.