Daeungjeon of Doseonsa


“Venerable! When was Daeungjeon founded here in Doseonsa Temple?”

“Doseonsa Temple was founded eleven hundred years ago at the time of King Gyeongmun, the 48th ruler of the Silla Kingdom, but it is said that the current Daeungjeon was reconstructed in 1903 by Venerable Hyemyeong, under command of King Gojong, the 26th ruler of the Joseon Dynasty.

“I see there are three Buddha statues. What do they mean?”

“Yes, they enshrine Amitabha Buddha, who leads sentient beings into the Pure Land of Utmost Bliss; Mahasthamaprapta, the Bodhisattva of Great Power of Wisdom, Amitabha’s helper; and Avalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva of Great Compassion. These three are referred to as the Triad-Buddha.”

“Oh, I see! Are there any other notable characteristics of Daeungjeon of Doseonsan Temple?”

“Doseonsa was founded on mountainous terrain according to its needs, rather than the rule of garam, having seven assorted subsidiary dharma halls. Now, shall we take a look at the interior wall over here?”

“Are all those portraits of great priests and the Buddhist scroll paintings known as tanghwa?”

“Yes, they are! As you can see, these are the portraits of Venerable Bodhidharma, Venerable Hyeneung, and Abbot Cheongdam. Over there are Hubultaenghwa, the painting behind the main Buddha statue; Palsangdo, the pictures of the eight scenes from the life of Buddha; and Geungnak Gupumdo, the blissful rebirth in the Pure Land in the West depicted in nine paintings!

“Daeungjeon in Doseonsa is like a Buddhist museum!”