Cheoneunsa Temple Ultimate Bliss Hall

SOUTH KOREA, South Jeolla, Gurye

The Ultimate Bliss Hall is located in Cheoneunsa (Temple of Hidden Spring). The temple is situated southwest of Jirisan (Unusual Knowledge Mountain) and was established by an Indian monk in 828 during the Unified Silla dynasty. This Ultimate Bliss Hall was reconstructed in 1775 during the Joseon dynasty. It was listed as Provincial Tangible Cultural Property No. 50 in 1974.
The three-by-three bay hall stands on a stone platform and has a single-eave hip-and-gable roof. There are three lattice doors within each bay. There is a protruding dragon head on the round columns on either side of the central bay. The eaves are upturned at the corners and are supported by multi-tier bracket sets. There are two intermediate bracket sets within each bay at the front and back of the hall, and one intermediate bracket set on each side of the hall. The bracket sets show features of later Joseon dynasty (1392–1910) style, with projecting bracket arms and down-pointing cantilevers, as well as decorations with lotus and scroll leaf patterns. The carvings of dragons beneath the eaves and the protruding dragon heads on top of the columns at the front are characteristics of later periods. The hall houses statues of Amitabha Buddha, Avalokitesvara and Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattvas, behind which there is a painting of Amitabha Buddha Assembly, listed as Treasure No. 924 in 1987. The hall also contains other paintings dated to 1776 and 1833 during the Joseon dynasty.