What is Mireuksa Temple Site?


Mireuksa Temple Site is located in Geumma-myeon, Iksan in a large flatland at the foot of Mireuksan Mountain. This temple site is the largest in East Asia. Samguk yusa, also known as Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms, tells the legend of its foundation, which is rare for a Baekje temple, and research has confirmed that it was destroyed around the time of the Japanese invasion of Joseon in 1592.

Constructed in the “three pagodas, three prayer halls” style, Mireuksa Temple contained three prayer halls placed in a row. A middle gate, pagoda, and prayer hall formed one unit, and three of these units were arranged in an independent fashion. The middle unit had a wooden pagoda, whereas the east and west units had stone pagodas. It is unclear when the middle and east pagodas were erected. However, with the discovery of a gold plate with inscription of sarira enshrinement, it was confirmed that the west pagoda was established in 639 by the request of Queen Sataek, King Mu’s queen consort.