Simwonsa Temple Universal Light Hall

NORTH KOREA, North Hwanghae, Yontan

The Universal Light Hall is located within Simwonsa Temple, which means Temple of Mind Origin. The Universal Light Hall is the main building within the temple and it was built in 1374 during the Goryeo dynasty. It is one of the oldest wooden buildings in North Korea. As part of Simwonsa Temple, it is listed as National Treasure No. 91.
The three-by-three bay hall has a single-eave hip-and-gable roof and tapered columns. The front doors of the central bay are elaborately decorated with lotus blossoms, human figures, nagas, birds, and fish. Within the interior of the hall, there are only two roof-bearing columns, in between which there is an altar. The roof framework is open and the ceiling is decorated with floral patterns, while some bracket sets are adorned with carvings of figures holding trays. The bracket sets and the interior structure exemplify architectural features of the Goryeo dynasty (918–1392).