Geodonsa Temple Site, Wonju

Basic information

Designation

Historic Site No.168

Category

유적지

Era

신라시대~조선 전기

Designated year

1968

Location

원주시, 강원특별자치도— 강원 원주시 부론면 정산리 189번지

Coordinates

37.193591, 127.792197

Located in a place surrounded by a small valley at the foot of Hyeongyesan Mountain, this used to be the site of a temple constructed around the 9th century during the late Silla, expanded-repaired in the early Goryeo, and kept operational until the early Joseon Dynasty. The sites of the middle gate, pagodas, main hall, lecture hall, rooms for monks, and wide corridors were discovered, and the structure of the temple is believed to be a 2-story building with 5 front rooms and 3 side rooms. The Three-story Stone Pagoda (Treasure) north of the middle gate is assumed to have been constructed at the same time the temple was built, following the typical construction style for the pagodas of the Silla Period. On the east of the pagoda is a Stele for State Preceptor Wongong (Treasure), whose inscription was composed by Choe Chung (1025) and whose calligraphy was done by Gim Geo-ung. The pagoda, which used to stand next to the stele, was moved to Gyeongbokgung Palace. Though Geodonsa Temple was constructed, becoming the main temple for Beoban Order when its teaching was popular among the people during the early Goryeo Dynasty, it was also accepted as the branch of the temples for the Cheontae Order when it was pervasive during the mid-Goryeo period. Constructed on the mountain site, Geodonsa, which holds lots of relics, is peculiar since it had only one pagoda instead of the two as was usual in temples from the late Silla to the early Goryeo Periods.

Location