Beopjusa

Temple · Korea

Songnisan Beopjusa

Miscellaneous

Researched and translated with AI assistance. Every claim is linked to its source, but errors get through, so check the official site for opening times, fees and closures.About

In short

Founded in 553 and grown into the centre of Maitreya devotion, holding the only wooden pagoda in Korea.

The Palsangjeon at Beopjusa, five wooden storeys rising beside the bell pavilion. — Steve46814 / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Quick facts

Address: 405 Beopjusa-ro, Songnisan-myeon, Boeun-gun, Chungcheongbuk-do

About this place

Beopjusa stands on Songnisan in Boeun, North Chungcheong, and is said to have been founded by Uisin in 553. It is the head temple of the fifth diocese of the Jogye Order and was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2018 as part of "Sansa, Buddhist Mountain Monasteries in Korea". Yeongsim, a disciple of Jinpyo, held the first divination assembly here, and through it the temple grew into the centre of Maitreya devotion. Its Palsangjeon, a National Treasure since 1962, is a five-storey wooden pagoda.

Origin and history

The Encyclopedia of Korean Culture records that Beopjusa is said to have been founded by Uisin in 553.

Yeongsim, a disciple of Jinpyo, held the first divination assembly here, and through it the temple developed into the central hall of Maitreya devotion.

Burned down entirely in the Imjin War, it was rebuilt from 1605 to 1626, when Yujeong reconstructed the Palsangjeon. Designated a National Treasure in 1962, the Palsangjeon is a five-storey wooden pagoda and an important source for the study of wooden pagodas in Korea. In June 2018 it was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list as part of "Sansa, Buddhist Mountain Monasteries in Korea".

What it is locally associated with

OriginMiscellaneous
The centre of Maitreya devotion
It became so when Yeongsim, a disciple of Jinpyo, held the first divination assembly here.
documented history
Power spot
The Palsangjeon
A five-storey wooden pagoda and a key source for the study of wooden pagodas in Korea. A National Treasure since 1962.
documented history
Origin
Rebuilt after the Imjin War
Burned down entirely, it was rebuilt from 1605 to 1626, when Yujeong reconstructed the Palsangjeon.
documented history

What was believed here is on the record. After Yeongsim held his divination assembly, this became the central hall of Maitreya devotion. Maitreya is the buddha said to come in a distant future, and that devotion faces the world to come rather than the blessings of this one.

This site files the place under "other" not for want of evidence but for the opposite reason: the devotion is plainly recorded and simply does not translate into any petition this site carries. Chamseongdan on Ganghwa and the Taebaeksan altar sit in the same place for the same reason.

Claims and evidence levels 4

Beopjusa is said to have been founded by Uisin in 553 and is the head temple of the fifth diocese of the Jogye Order. documented history
Yeongsim, a disciple of Jinpyo, held the first divination assembly here, through which the temple developed into the central hall of Maitreya devotion. documented history
The Palsangjeon, designated a National Treasure in 1962, is a five-storey wooden pagoda and an important source for the study of wooden pagodas in Korea. documented history
Burned down in the Imjin War, the temple was rebuilt between 1605 and 1626, when Yujeong reconstructed the Palsangjeon; it was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list in June 2018. documented history

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