Bongjeongsa

Bongjeongsa
Geungnakjeon - The oldest wooden building in Korea with the 3 storied pagoda in front at Bongjeongsa.
Korean name
Hangul	봉정사
Hanja	祗林寺
Revised Romanization	Bongjeongsa
McCune–Reischauer	Pongjŏngsa

Coordinates: 36°39′12″N 128°39′43″E / 36.653279°N 128.661964°E / 36.653279; 128.661964

Bongjeongsa is a Korean Buddhist temple on the slopes of Mount Cheondeung in Andong city, North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea. It is a subsidiary temple of Gounsa, the head temple of the 16th branch of Jogye Order.

At 1,650 m²/17,760 ft², Bongjeongsa is the largest temple in Andong, and is the site of the oldest wooden building, Geuknakjeon, in Korea. There are 10 buildings at the main temple and a total of 9 other buildings at Bongjeongsa's two sub temples found to the east and west of the main temple complex.

This temple constitutes the oldest example of wooden architecture in Korea. During her trip to Korea in 1999, Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom was particullary impressed by the scale and beauty of Bongjeonsa Temple.

Bongjeongsa is believed first established by Monk Uisang in 672 during the 12th year of King Munmu of Silla (661-681), however, an inscription found during a restoration of Geuknakjeon state that Neungin Daedeuk, a disciple of Monk Uisang, established the temple.

In 1363 the last major reconstruction took place and in 1625 and 1972, renovations were undertaken.

Built in the mid-Goryeo Period, around 12th and 13th century, Geukrakjeon (Nirvana Hall), from the Goryeo Dynasty era, is the oldest wooden building in Korea. Geukrakjeon was constructed with slated windows and no door. Most old temple buildings were destroyed over the years by natural disasters or acts of war. Although restored from time to time, Geukrakjeon remains an original construction.