Hwaeom Lecture Hall of Bongjeongsa Temple, Andong
安東 鳳停寺 華嚴講堂
경상북도 안동시
Basic information
- Designation
- Treasure No.448
- Category
- Architecture
- Era
- 조선시대 중기
- Designated year
- 1967
- Location
- 안동시, 경상북도— 경북 안동시 서후면 봉정사길 222 (태장리)
- Coordinates
- 36.653330, 128.662546
AI Docent
✨ AI-generatedWelcome to Hwaeom Lecture Hall at Bongjeongsa Temple! Imagine stepping into a space where Buddhist monks studied foundational teachings centuries ago. Built in the 17th century—though the temple itself dates back to the late 7th century—this building is a masterclass in balance and practicality. Notice how the low pillars and large supporting brackets create perfect harmony. The roof's distinctive shape, like the character 人 when viewed from the side, isn't just beautiful—it's clever design. Inside, the space cleverly divides into a study room and kitchen with storage between them. What makes this hall special? It blends different construction styles into something uniquely Korean, yet remains simpler and more modest than the temple's grander halls. That balance reflects its purpose: a place for learning, not ceremony. This building is treasured today because it reveals how Korean architects innovated with traditional techniques. You're looking at centuries of wisdom expressed in wood and brackets.
⚠ This is an AI-generated retelling of the official description. For accuracy, refer to the official description below.
Description
According to a sangnyangmun (message concerning a ridge beam raising ceremony) of Geungnakjeon Hall, Bongjeongsa Temple appears to have been built by Great Monk Neungin in the late 7th century while legend has it that the temple was built in 672. Hwaeomgangdang Lecture Hall is the place where monks receive the basic Buddhist doctrine Going by the records on the repair of the temple (Yangbeopdangjungsugi), it is presumed that the lecture hall underwent repairs at the same time as Geungnakjeon Hall (hall of Paradise) and Daeungjeon Hall (the main sanctuary of the temple) in the 17th century. The lecture hall measures three kan (a unit of measurement referring to the distance between two columns) at the front and two kan at the sides, and has a gable roof resembling the character 人 when viewed from the side. The eaves of the roof are supported by a system of brackets placed on the pillars. In particular, the hall was built in a compromised style by mixing elements from various construction styles, and features a simpler style of decoration than the temple’s Daeungjeon Hall. As the building served as a lecture hall, the pillars are low but the brackets are large, so it has a well-balanced appearance. Two kan of the hall is used for a room and one kan is for a kitchen; and there is a cupboard between the kitchen and the room. On the whole, the hall is a stable and well-balanced building and is regarded as an important cultural resource for studies on the history of Korean traditional architecture. *Bongjeongsa Temple is known to have been built by Buddhist Master Uisang in 682 (the second year of the reign of King Sinmun of the Silla Dynasty). According to a legend, Master Uisang, the founder of Buseoksa Temple, made a phoenix from paper and released it into the sky, and built a temple, which he named Bongjeongsa, at the place where the paper phoenix landed.
Location
지도를 불러오는 중…
Have you visited this place?
Log in and verify your visit on-site via GPS to record a stamp in My Journey. (QR verification coming later.)
Images: KOGL (khs.go.kr) · Data source: Korea Heritage Service Open API (khs.go.kr)