Pu-sok-sa Temple

Intro

History

Vernacular Architecture

High-Style Architecture

Bibliography

Links

This temple was built during the reign of King Munmu of the Silla Dynasty.  Founded by the monk Uisang in 676 C.E., he was granted the right to construct the “Temple of the Floating Stone” when he returned from China bearing tidings of war.  He convinced the king that by building the temple, Buddha would help ward off the invasion.  It worked:  the Koreans warded off the Chinese.  King Munmu would later be buried off of the coast, where his spirit transformed into a sea dragon.

The name of the temple is derived from the story of its creation:  apparently, as Uisang was leaving China, his informant, the daughter of the official he was staying with, chased after him.  Although she missed his boat, she dove into the sea and became a dragon that protected his mission.  After the villagers refused to vacate the area he chose for the temple, the dragon reappeared and threatened to destroy their village by throwing a gigantic stone at it.  After the people fled, the 


A shrine near the floating stone

dragon fell to earth and died.  The place the dragon fell to earth became the site of Mur-yang-su-Jeon, the main hall of the temple.  A portion of the rock the dragon hurled at the villagers remains, and appears to float above the surrounding stones.
Pu-sok-sa temple, like all temples, is a complex of buildings.  In this case the temples are built on a series of terraces on a hillside.  A long walk begins the procession that leads to the temple. 

This walk leads through a pair of Tap'o gates before coming to a courtyard that is surrounded by the monks’ quarters and various other buildings.


The first gate leading to Pu-sok-sa Temple


The second gate

Within the courtyard are the two stupas found in all Buddhist temples. These identical stupas are excellent examples of the Silla-type pagodas.

Beyond the pagodas is the path to the upper terrace.  This path leads beneath the Anyang Pavilion.


One of the two Silla-era Pagodas in front of the Temple.


The Anyang Pavilion from below


The Anyang Pavilion

The Anyang Pavillion is not only an excellent example of Tap'o architecture, but also exemplifies many of the Korean traditions concerning the placement of buildings: the building is placed so as to capture its nature surrounding at its most beautiful.  The openness of the building frames a view of the surrounding landscape.