Beomeosa Temple

SOUTH KOREA, Busan

Beomeosa means Heavenly Fish Temple. It was once one of the Ten Major Temples of the Hwaeom school and it is now the head temple for the 14th district of the Jogye order of Seon Buddhism. According to the records, the temple was named after the legend whereby a fish, riding on colorful clouds, flew down from the heavens to play in a golden well on Geumjeongsan (Golden Well Mountain). The temple was founded in 678 during the Silla dynasty by Master Uisang. All the original buildings of Beomeosa Temple were destroyed during the Japanese invasions of Korea (1592–1598). While some buildings were rebuilt in 1613, most of the buildings that are still standing today were reconstructed in 1713 during the Joseon dynasty.
The existing structures include the One Pillar Gate, Heavenly King Gate, Non-Duality Gate, Great Hero Hall, Judgment Hall, Arhat Hall, Hall of Eight Pictures, three-tier stone pagoda, and stone lantern.
The Caoxi Gate, also known as One Pillar Gate, has a distinctive design. The disporportionately large roof and substructure are supported by four short undecorated wooden columns resting on high plain stone pillars. They are in stark contrast to the colorful eaves, which are underpinned by highly decorated multiple bracket sets resting on brightly colored beams. According to an ink inscription on a beam, the gate was built in 1694. It underwent renovation in 1983 and was listed as Treasure No. 1461 in 2006. The three-by-three-bay wooden Great Hero Hall is listed as Treasure No. 434. The roof is supported by decorated three-tier bracket sets. The hall contains statues of Sakyamuni Buddha with two attendant Bodhisattvas. The 4 m high three-tier stone pagoda was built in the 9th century. It has a two-layer base and a pagoda body whose first level is much higher than the upper levels. The pagoda was listed as Treasure No. 250.