Gapsa Temple

SOUTH KOREA, South Chungcheong, Gongju

Gapsa means the Foremost Temple. It is also known as Gyeryong Gapsa because it is located in Gyeryongsan (Chicken Dragon Mountain). The temple was founded by royal monk Ado in 420 during the Baekje dynasty. It became one of the Ten Major Temples of the Hwaeom school after Master Uisang gave the Hwaeom teachings there in 679 during the Unified Silla dynasty.
The major structures of the temple include the Gate of Liberation, Great Hero Hall, Hall of Great Stillness, Express Loyalty Hall, Hall of Eight Pictures, lecture hall, and bell tower. There are also a number of hermitages affiliated with the temple.
The five-bay wide Great Hero Hall was rebuilt in 1604 and has an overhanging gable roof. The lecture hall has an overhanging gable roof and is three bays wide. The Express Loyalty Hall and Hall of Eight Pictures are situated in front and to the left of the lecture hall, while the bell tower is located next to the hall. The Express Loyalty Hall was built to commemorate monk Yeonggyu, who was said to have led the monk soldiers in defending the temple against attack by the Japanese from 1592 to 1598. The hall houses Yeonggyu’s portrait, as well as those other monk soldiers, including Samyeong and Seosan. The Hall of Eight Pictures contains murals displaying the Eight Great Events from the Life of the Buddha.
The temple houses many national and local treasures, including Buddhist paintings and statues, a bronze bell, and wooden printing blocks of Wolilsukbo carved in 1569 during the Joseon dynasty.