Geungnakjeon Hall of Bongamsa Temple, Mungyeong

Geungnakjeon is a Buddhist worship hall for the veneration of Amitabha, the Buddha of Western Paradise. It is believed that all beings who call the name of Amitabha while reflecting on his meritorious virtues can be reborn in the Buddhist paradise of the West.

Bongamsa Temple was founded in 879 during the Unified Silla period (668-935) by the monk Jijeung (824-882). It is said that King Gyeongsun (r. 927-935) took refuge at this temple and prayed here for the safety of the royal family during the conflicts during the kingdom’s decline. During the Goryeo period (918-1392), the monk Jeongjin (878-956) oversaw the renovation of the temple in 935. The temple underwent several more renovations during the Joseon period (1392-1910) but was destroyed in a fire in 1907. Geungnakjeon Hall survived the fire, and the temple was reconstructed beginning in 1915.

Geungnakjeon Hall is well-preserved in its original form. It resembles a wooden pagoda with its square layout, two-tier roof, and granite decorative top. Inside the hall is a plaque with the inscription of “Royal Calligraphy Pavilion,” which suggests that at some point in time, the calligraphy of a king was kept in this hall.

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