Daejangjeon Hall and Rotating Sutra Case of Yongmunsa Temple, Yecheon

A rotating sutra case, called yunjangdae in Korean, is a bookcase of Buddhist scriptures and sutras as well as an object of worship. It is believed that one would attain the merit of reading the sutras by just turning this case. It is used during rituals praying for rebirth in the Buddhist paradise.

Daejangjeon Hall is usually built for storing Buddhist texts. However, this hall in Yongmunsa Temple was constructed for the particular purpose of protecting two rotating sutra cases, which are enshrined on either side of the main altar. The building is the only Buddhist text repository in Korea which also holds rotating sutra cases.

Daejangjeon Hall and the rotating sutra cases were all first constructed in 1173. Daejangjeon is the oldest building in Yongmunsa Temple and has undergone several reconstructions and repairs.

Each sutra case is built around a wooden pole which allows the case to rotate. The cases are inserted into the floor with bases that narrow at the bottom. The top of the sutra cases are connected to the building’s ceiling. The sutra case on the left is elaborately adorned with floral lattices, and the one on the right is decorated with a grid pattern.

Source: Korea Heritage Service signboard ↗ · collected 2026-10-08