Geumsansa Temple: Iljumun Gate

[Narration]
A warm welcome to everybody visiting Geumsansa Temple.

Founded in the Baekje period under King Beop, Geumsansa Temple has taken a leading role in the world of Buddhism for a long time: it’s a temple carrying a rich history, and has brought forth many great monks such as Master Jinpyo.

Even aside from Mireukjeon Hall (National Treasure No. 62) there are still around ten other designated relics and treasures here, cementing the temple’s great cultural value.

Without further ado, let’s set off for the largest temple in Jeollabuk-do, home to approximately one thousand four hundred years of history and tradition.

If you follow the mountain road leading from the ticket office entrance for about one kilometer, you will come across a sign reading: Moak mountain, Geumsansa Temple.

The ‘Iljumun Gate’, or main entrance to the temple, can be seen as the boundary dividing the temple and the world outside.
It’s called Iljumun Gate as it symbolizes the unified soul, represented here by the pillars arranged in a straight line.

The purpose of this place is to remedy the disunity of spirit and worldly desires before entering the sacred temple: to find unity in one’s soul here.

So after shaking off the entanglements of our souls, shall we leave the outside world behind us?

Coming up after about one hundred meters after leaving Iljumun Gate is our next stop, Geumgangmun Gate.

Let’s cross the ‘Deliverance Bridge’ and head for Geumgangmun Gate.