5. Daegwangmyeongjeon Hall of Tongdosa Temple

[Man]
In Tongdosa Temple, Buildings are arranged in the three zones of Sangrojeon, Jungrojeon, and Harojeon. Daegwangmyeongjeon Hall is the central hall of Jungrojeon. It is unknown when Daegwangmyeongjeon Hall of Tongdosa Temple was built. However, in 1725, the first year of King Yeongjo, Buddhist monk Chukhwan Daesa repaired it. It later burned down in 1756, the 32nd year of King Yeongjo, and was rebuilt in 1758.

[Buddhist Monk]
“Fire!! Fire!!” There is a fire at Daegwangmyeongjeon Hall!”

[Woman]
According to the Samseonggonpilhu signboard of Daegwangmyeongjeon Hall created in 1759, a fire broke out on October 21 of 1756, and 4 Dharma halls, 4 sections of accommodations, and 10 sections of storage burned down. Subsequently, the construction began on January 7, 1758.

[Buddhist Monk]
"Can't you build a little faster?”

[Overseer]
"Come on. Let's speed up! As we've built three Dharma halls by September 26, now we have to paint and decorate them!”

[Worker]
“Whew, I can’t. I'm already speeding up plenty right now!”

[Overseer]
"Move a little faster!"

[Worker]
"I've got to be the overseer or something. I can’t put up with this any longer.”

[Overseer]
“Oh, I forgot! Have you started plating the Vairocana Buddha?"

[Buddhist Monk]
"I'm going to do it after I'm done with the painting and decorating. It's urgent.”

[Overseer]
"Alright, you all heard him! Come on, don't fiddle around, and get back to work!"

[Worker]
"Whew. Both the monk and the overseer are always at my throat. Ah, just kill me now. Why me! Yes, yes, I'll do it!! I said I will!!!!”

[Woman]
Located behind the Vairocana Buddha enshrined in the building, the record of painting of the Trikaya doctrine in Daegwangmyeongjeon Hall of Tongdosa Temple recorded that the painting was created in 1759. In addition, the roof tiles of Daegwangmyeongjeon Hall bear the inscription of 1758.

[Man]
Daegwangmyeongjeon Hall of Tongdosa Temple houses the Vairocana Buddha as its main Buddha. The Vairocana Buddha refers to a Buddha of light that is not visible to the naked eye. In the Buddhist literature, the Vairocana Buddha is the main Buddha of Avatamsaka. Vairocana Buddha, who serves Buddha Sakyamuni as his manifestation, is known to appear in variable forms depending on the time, place, and person. It is said that the Vairocana Buddha is not visible to the eye of those caught by illusion, but he is available anywhere if you think in a single mind and do not doubt with a clear mind.

[Woman]
The halls where the Vairocana Buddha is enshrined in Korean temples are called Daejeokgwangjeon or Daegwangmyeongjeon Hall. When the building is named as a hall, Sambhogakaya and Sakyamuni Buddha are usually enshrined on the left and right of the Vairocana Buddha.

[Man]
A wooden Vairocana Buddha is enshrined in Daegwangmyeongjeon Hall of Tongdosa Temple. On the left and right sides of the Vairocana Buddha painting are hung the Sambhogakaya painting and Sakyamuni Buddha painting, and the original painting has been moved to the museum. It was created by Imhan, a Buddhist monk whose base was in Tongdosa Temple in the late Joseon Dynasty, and it is considered to have the highest quality among the existing paintings of the Trikaya. In addition, the Jeseok painting, Cheonryong painting, and Palgeumgang painting are also displayed.

[Woman]
Inside the building, there is a calligraphy writing to prevent fire in the western, eastern, and southern sides inside the building, which should be regarded as a kind of fire-fighting talisman used to ward off fire in the building. The wooden flying dragons carved inside and outside the main hall are realistic, serving as a valuable material showing the techniques of wooden crafts developed during the Joseon Dynasty.