Jeongnimsa Temple, the Heart of Buyeo, Capital of Baekje

This is a 1:12 scale model of Jeongnimsa Temple, the ancient temple that was located at the center of Buyeo, the third capital of the Baekje kingdom. You might be surprised by the size of the temple. Why do you think such a large temple was situated in the center of the capital? And why did they build a temple? Let’s find out.

In the middle of the 6th century, Baekje relocated its capital to Buyeo in order to enable further development of the kingdom. The transfer of the capital had been the long-cherished project of the kingdom and was meticulously planned over a long period of time. The capital Buyeo was a new city built based on exhaustive city planning and elaborate preparation for pre-development.

The construction of a temple in the middle of the capital signified the wish for the unification of the society and the creation of a powerful kingdom based on the national principles of Buddhism. In addition, it was a place of assembly, and royal ceremonies and rituals were performed here to offer prayers for the continued prosperity of the royal family. As such, this temple reflected the spirit of Baekje.

Jeongnimsa Temple fell along with the kingdom, and was burnt to the ground. However, many of the relics found on the site of the former temple are of inestimable value in terms of reviving awareness of the culture of Baekje. Symbolized by the original Five-story Stone Pagoda, Jeongnimsa Temple is a valuable cultural asset that reflects the essence of the flourishing Buddhist culture of Baekje.