Gaesimsa Temple Great Hero Hall

SOUTH KOREA, South Chungcheong, Seosan

Gaesimsa (Open Mind Temple) was founded in 654 during the Baekje dynasty by National Master Hyegam. According to an inscription found during the renovation of the Great Hero Hall, it was reconstructed in 1484 during the Joseon dynasty. It was listed as Treasure No. 143 in 1963.
The three-by-three bay hall has an overhanging gable roof and stands on a stone platform. It is designed as a simple multiple-beam structure. The roof is supported by the column-head bracket system, where the bracket sets rest only on column capitals with no intermediate bracket sets. There are three-tier bracket sets on the inside and two-tier bracket sets on the outside. As there are no beams on the two sides, two large columns are used as supports. The hall houses a gilt lacquered wooden statue of Amitabha Buddha. The highly decorated roof structure with colorful patterns and images is a distinctive feature of the hall. The architectural characteristics are representative of the transitional style from the early Joseon dynasty (1392–1910).