Sacheonwangmun of Guryongsa


“A second gate, Sacheonwangmun, or the Gate of the Four Heavenly Guardians, can be found beyond Weontongmun. At some temples, Guemgangmun, or the Diamond Deva Gate, can be found, but the Gate of the Four Heavenly Guardians most often satisfies this function.”

“It can therefore be said that Sacheonwangmun is the first line of defense protecting the temple. The Four Heavenly Guardians refer to the beings in charge of the four quarters of heaven.”

“The Four Heavenly Guardians protect Mt. Sumeru, the imaginary mountain which is the center of the universe in Buddhism, in all directions, and they watch over the sentient beings in the mundane world, regardless of whether they are living according to Buddha’s teaching, by leading them to the correct path.”


“At Sacheonwangmun, one can find King Dhrtarastra to the east, the fearful guardian in white with a sword in his hand; King Vaisravana to the north, the guardian in black with a lute in his hand; King Virudhaka to the south, the guardian in the form of a blue dragon; and King Virupaksa to the west, the guardian in red with a stupa in his hand. These are the guardians which protect the north, south, east and west in the Pure Land of Buddhism.”

“Unlike those found at other temples, the Sacheonwangmun found at Guryongsa is two stories high, and it is known as the biggest among Korean temples. Upon entering, the Four Heavenly Guardians appear, standing in a dignified manner. Mandala, or circular magic diagrams which serve to filter out any negativity, can be seen painted on the ceiling of the second floor .”