Bogyeongsa Cheonwang Gate, Pohang

Basic information

Designation

Treasure No.2257

Category

Architecture

Era

조선시대

Designated year

2024

Location

포항시, 경상북도— 경상북도 포항시 북구 보경로 523 (송라면, 보경사)

Coordinates

36.252035, 129.317771Kakao address conversion

This English description was machine-translated and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the original Korean text for details.

Pohang Bogyeong Temple's Four Heavenly Kings Gate (Sacheonwang-mun) lacks documented creation records. However, historical documentation including <Record of Four Heavenly Kings Gate Reconstruction Ridge-Beam Inscription (Cheonwangmun Jung-chang Sangryangmun), 1761> authored by Buddhist Master Uimun and <Record of Bogyeong Temple Four Heavenly Kings Gate Reconstruction (Bogyeong-sa Sacheonwangmun Jung-geon-gi), 1767> composed by Yi Jong-yeong confirm two-phased construction: initial 1679 (Sukjong 5th year) reconstruction and subsequent 1761-1767 (Yeongjo 37-43rd year) reconstruction, exemplifying the temporal developmental characteristics of post-seventeenth-century Buddhist temple Four Heavenly Kings Gate development. The structural design measures 3 bays on the front and 2 bays on the side in single-story hip-and-gable-roof configuration. The central bay functions as processional passage with double-hinged sliding-bar wooden-plank door installation. Rather than conventional temple-entrance mountain-gate (sanmun) designation, the gate functions as a principal entrance to the central Buddha precinct, serving ceremonial significance. The left and right flanking bays house Four Heavenly Kings sculptures created in 1980. The lower-section frontal primary pillar position incorporates sculptural lion-form carved support-beam elements (sin-bangmok) demonstrating design similarity to Bogyeong Temple's Jeokgwang Hall (national-level heritage designation), representing a domestic-unique Four Heavenly Kings Gate sculptural example of exceptional scholarly and artistic value. *Support-beam elements (shin-bangmok): horizontal wooden reinforcement members installed beneath door-pillar structural components The bracket system comprises one-bay exterior outset with two-wing-bracket configuration. The primary wing-bracket external terminal features upward-curved blade form decorated with lotus-flower carving, while the internal section maintains simplified initial-style carving. The secondary wing-bracket external terminal displays upward-curved blade form with lotus-bud decoration above the major beam. The wing-bracket terminal configuration employs pentagonal faceted geometric shape through rectangular-cut form, exemplifying seventeenth-century post-architectural phenomenon of integrating multiple-bracket-system design elements into wing-bracket-style architecture. The corner bracket system employs full-angle bracket configuration typically found in multiple-bracket systems rather than wing-bracket or column-head bracket system architecture, demonstrating exceptional scholarly value through distinctive architectural design principles.

Location