The Origin of Sinheungsa [Curator] Sitting quietly in the midst of the mystical energy and breathtaking scenery of Mount Soraksan, the history of this ancient, traditional temple goes back to the time of the Silla Kingdom. The original buildings, built in 652, had been destroyed by fire. However, the only surviving structure, a nine-story pagoda called Hyangseongsatap, tells the old story. When Hyangseongsa Temple, which is the old name for the temple, was destroyed, Great Master Uisang rebuilt it at the site of the hermitage Naewonam, and renamed it Seonjeongsa. After that, it enjoyed prosperity for a thousand years, but it was burned to the ground in 1642, in the 20th year of the 16th King Injo's reign during the Joseon Dynasty. It was rebuilt in 1644. As nothing was left standing, all monks left but three. These venerables were terribly saddened that their historic temple had become nothing but ruins, and decided to rebuild the temple once again. So, every day, they prayed and worked toward rebuilding the temple. Then, one day, they all had the same dream: a silver-haired god appeared pointing at the current Sinheungsa site and said, “If you build a temple here, there will be no damage from the three major disasters of fire, flood, or storms for ten thousand years.” Afterwards, he disappeared into thin air. That’s how Sinheungsa came to be built upon this site. [Visitor] This place seems to be full of historical significance.

The Three-story Stone Pagoda and Iljumun of Sinheungsa [Curator] Mount Soraksan is a favorite destination for endless visitors. They come to hear a thousand years of stories surrounded by beautiful scenery. The three-story stone pagoda at the Hyangseongsa Temple Site, Treasure No. 443, welcomes everyone before they arrive at the One Pillar Gate. It is said that Hyangseongsa Temple stood here originally. This is a typical stone pagoda of the Unified Silla period, with the main body stone built on two layers of foundation. It appears quite dignified, yet is also both simple and beautiful. [Visitor] Wow, it looks so beautiful. It is laid out very nicely. [Curator] On the contrary, the One Pillar Gate looks too plain. It said that the name, One Pillar Gate, is given to this type of gate because when you look at it from the side, the pillars look one as if there is only one, as they overlap perfectly. Normally, when constructing a house, four pillars are used to support the roof, but in a One Pillar Gate, only two or three pillars, placed in a straight line, are used to support the roof. Among many gates of temples in mountains, the first one, the One Pillar Gate, holds the teaching that one should leave one’s worldly afflictions behind and step into the world of wisdom and enlightenment with a mind fully centered.

Tongil Daebul of Sinheungsa [Visitor] Wow, that statue is really gigantic! [Curator] This massive bronze Buddha statue is called Tongil Daebul. It was created in hopes of inspiring the peaceful reunification of North and South Korea, and world peace. It is about 14.6 meters tall and 13 meters wide, and is made of 108 tons of bronze. The completion of this project took ten years, from 1987 to 1997. The materials used for making the thin white urna, or curl, on his forehead were one 10-centimeter-wide piece of jade and eight 8-centimeter-wide pieces of amber. It shines so brilliantly. Sixteen arhats, all praying toward the goal of unification, are carved around the statue’s platform. Shall we take a look around? Behind the statue, there is an entrance to its body. Do you see it? That is the dharma hall that enshrines Cheonsucheonan gwansaeumbosal, the Bodhisattva of Great Compassion, who saves this world with his thousand hands and eyes. Also, the abdomen of the statue enshrines three parts of the collection of Sakyamuni Buddha’s relics, which were given by the Myanmar government in 1992. It also holds the Dharani Sutra and seven precious jewels. This Great Tongil Daebul is quite significant, not only because it contains the reunification hopes of the Korean people, even those who are not religious, but also because it is placed near the DMZ.

Sacheonwangmun, the Gate of the Four Guardian Kings The Gate of the Four Guardian Kings, the last doorway to the main compound, is found after crossing Sesimgyo Bridge. It was first built in 1811, but after the original structure was destroyed by fire, it was reconstructed in 1972. In most temples, a gate called Haetalmun or Bulimun, divides the inside of the temple from the outside. However, here, this is the last gate. This gate is the residence of the Four Guardian Kings who protect Buddha Land in the east, west, north, and south. They protect the teachings of Buddha from demons and evil spirits. Depending on their location, they have different roles and responsibilities. King Dhrtarastra, the white guardian, is in charge of the east, holding a lute in his hand. It is said that for the good, he grants good fortune, and for the evil, he grants punishment. In the west, there is King Virupaksa with his red sword. He makes evil ones suffer, so they will realize the ultimate sense of emptiness. The king of south, Virudhaka, with his blue dragon, makes all things in the world grow. Lastly, the protector of the north, King Vaisravana with his stupa, saves the wandering spirits of all sentient beings. Sinheungsa Temple is not just about its unique architecture; viewing Seoraksan Mountain from the temple will give you a new definition of the unity with nature.

Geungnakbojeon Hall of Sinheungsa Temple After passing through Bojeru Pavilion, there is a small dharma hall called Geungnakbojeon. It is the Main Buddha Hall, with three panels in the front and on the sides, that enshrines Amitabha Buddha as the principal deity. This building’s distinctive feature is these decorative flower-patterned door frames. Pieces of wood are carved into flower patterns. On top, things like birds, turtles and fish were added. The designs are blended to create the overall appearance. On the front steps, do you see the dragon’s eyes on the handrail? They’re eye-catching, right? This virtuous dragon, with its huge eyes, is the protector of this hall. Next to it is an elf sitting atop clouds. In the dharma hall, you can see Amitabha Buddha in the center, with the Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva (Bodhisattva of Great Compassion) on the left, and Bodhisattva of the Great Power of Wisdom (Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva) on the right. These statues appear well-balanced and healthy. Amitabha Buddha’s mudra and flowing robes were carved beautifully. It was created by a sculptor monk called Muyeom in 1651, during the Joseon Dynasty period. We are fortunate to know this information because the sculptor’s name and the year a statue was carved are often unknown.

Bojeru Pavilion of Sinheungsa Temple Passing through the Gate of the Four Guardian Kings, there is a rectangular pavilion called Bojeru, which was founded in 1770. Its exterior takes the form of a pavilion. On the first floor, there is a passage leading to Geungnakbojeon Hall, and an attic takes up the top floor. This pavilion houses a two-meter-wide dharma bell made of nutmeg wood, along with a three-meter-long wooden fish-shaped drum with a dragon’s head. If you take a closer look, you will see a poem by the famous calligrapher Chusa Kim Jung-hee written on a wooden board on the walls. One notable feature of this building is the height of the pillars below. At that time, when it was constructed, it was common for Confucian scholars to go up to the front of the dharma hall on their carriages or horses. Thus, Bojeru Pavilion was constructed in front of the dharma hall, at the same level as the hall itself. Consequently, scholars had to disembark from their carriages or horses and proceed on foot through the building to reach the main dharma hall. This was done to teach the scholars humbleness and wisdom.

Myeongbujeon, the Hall of the Bodhisattva of Hell, of Sinheungsa [Curator] With three panels in the front and two on the side below a hip-and-gable roof, this hall is called Myeongbujeon. It enshrines Jijang bosal, Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, who vowed to save sentient beings in hell. Behind the altar, there is a painting of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva. Up above there is Datjip, a canopy over the Buddha statue, which separates the world of truth from the world of the mundane. His attendants, Domyeong jonja and Mudok guiwang, attend him on each side, completing the Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva Triad. This wooden Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva Triad was designated as Treasure No. 1740 in 2012.