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Hwangnyongsa

April 11, 2024

Hwangnyongsa (Korean: 황룡사), alternatively Hwangnyong Temple or Hwangryongsa, was a Buddhist temple in the city of Gyeongju, South Korea.

Hwangnyongsa
A miniature reconstruction of what the main pagoda may have once looked like. (1/10 scale)
Korean name
Hangul
황룡사
Hanja
皇龍寺
Revised RomanizationHwangryongsa
McCune–ReischauerHwangryongsa

Completed in the 7th century, the enormous 9-story structure was built entirely with wood with interlocking design with no iron nails. It had a standing total height of 68 m[1] (223 ft) or 80 m (262 ft), making it one of the tallest structures in East Asia at the time of its construction. Only the massive foundation stones of the temple remain in current times.

Hwangryongsa was the center of state-sponsored Buddhism during the Silla and Unified Silla eras which were cultural beacons of Buddhism during its time.[2] Its name means "Emperor/Imperial Dragon Temple."[2] Archaeological excavations and other scientific studies of the temple began in April 1976 (OCPRI[clarification needed] 1984) and continue today.

A replica of the building called Hwangnyongwon (Korean: 황룡원) now exists in Gyeongju, within the Bomun Tourism Complex. The building is used to host events, including conferences, banquets, and meetings. It also operates as a hotel, with 45 guest rooms available.[3][4]

History edit

Hwangnyongsa was built during the Silla period, under the patronage of the Silla royal family, on a plain encircled by mountains near the royal palace compound of Banwolseong (Half-Moon Palace). Construction began in 553 under the reign of King Jinheung, and was not fully completed until 644. King Jinheung originally intended for the temple to be the site of a new palace but when a dragon was seen on the proposed site, a temple was commissioned instead.[5] Hwangnyongsa was designed to be a place where monks prayed for the welfare of the nation by asking for the divine protection of the Buddha and a means to impress foreign dignitaries.[5]

Following the defeat of Baekje in the 660s, the Baekje architect, Abiji, was commissioned to build a nine-story wooden pagoda at the site, and labored with two hundred artisans to complete the pagoda.[1] This fact indicates that the Baekje had superior knowledge of wooden architecture. The nine stories supposedly represented the nine nations of East Asia and Silla's future conquest of those states.[6] The pagoda stood until it was burned by Mongolian invasions in 1238. No wooden architecture from the Silla people survives today but the ruins of Hwangnyongsa suggest a Goguryeo influence.[7]

The temple site in a valley within Gyeongju National Park near Toham Mountain and about 150 yards (140 m) from Bunhwangsa Temple, was excavated in 1972, revealing the temple layout and covering 40,000 artifacts.[5][8]

Legends edit

Buddhism was strongly resisted by the nobles of Silla while the king personally supported the new religion. The king's Grand Secretary, Ichadon, suggested[to whom?] that he forge the king's royal seal and create an order that the people adopt the new religion. When the forgery was discovered by the nobles, Ichadon suggested that he be made the scapegoat, and that through his death the power of Buddha be made manifest. The king agreed to the plan. The nobles were predictably outraged when they discovered Ichadon's forgery and the king ordered his execution. Legend has it that when Ichadon was executed, a series of miracles occurred which proved the power and reality of the Buddhist faith, and the nobles converted to the new state religion. Ichadon's sacrifice was the impetus for the building of Hwangnyongsa Temple.[5]

Another legend concerns the giant golden Buddha statue that the temple possessed. It was cast in the reign of King Jinheung as the temple centerpiece. The legend states that the gold for the statue came from King Ashoka of India.[9] Ashoka had apparently attempted to cast a golden triad but failed. He then put the gold in a boat along with scale models of Bodhisattvas. Each country that received the boat was equally unable to cast the statues, and not until the boat had arrived in Silla could a statue be cast.

Dimensions edit

Only the massive foundation stones of the temple remain in current times. The original complex took seventeen years to complete.[5]

  • The main hall was 155 feet (47 m) in length and 55 feet (17 m) in width.[5]
  • The longest outer wall of the temple was 288 meters in length and the area enclosed by the outer walls covered approximately 80,000 square meters.[10]
  • The temple ruins also contain pedestal stones which were for monumental Buddhist statues. One statue of the Sakyamuni Buddha was five meters tall.[8][11]
  • The temple was originally arranged in the "three Halls-one Pagoda" style which meant that the pagoda was in the center of the complex and flanked by three main halls on the left, right, and behind the central pagoda.[10]
  • The famous nine-story pagoda, which was commissioned by Queen Seondeok after the main temple was finished, was the largest Korean pagoda ever built as well as being the tallest structure in East Asia and the tallest wooden structure in the world at the time of its completion. It was reported to be 263 feet (80 m) tall and the body was made entirely of wood.[5] Only its foundation stones remain today but they attest to the mammoth proportions of the original structure. The pagoda had a foundation area of 6,084 square feet (565.2 m2), was supported by eight pillars on each side, and had sixty foundation stones.[5]

Gallery edit

  •  
    A part of Hwangnyonsa remains.
  •  
    From a spot which once had been the main entrance to the temple.
  •  
    A model of old Gyeongju. The pagoda at Hwangnyongsa Temple towers over the city.
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    Picture of the Panorama of the Hwangnyongsa.
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    Picture of the Nine story pagoda of the Hwangnyongsa.
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    Stones to support a flag pole
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See also edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ a b Lee, Soyoung; Leidy, Denise Patry (2013). Silla : Korea's golden kingdom. Lee, Soyoung, 1971-, Leidy, Denise Patry,, Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York, N.Y.),, Samsŏng Chŏnja,, National Endowment for the Arts,, Han'guk Kukche Kyoryu Chaedan. New York. p. 22. ISBN 9781588395023. OCLC 862096677.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  2. ^ a b Chung, David; Oh, Kang-nam (2001-04-19). Syncretism: The Religious Context of Christian Beginnings in Korea. SUNY Press. ISBN 9780791449424.
  3. ^ "Hwangnyongwon". k-mice.visitkorea.or.kr. Retrieved 2023-09-10.
  4. ^ "황룡원". www.hwangnyongwon.com. Retrieved 2023-09-10.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h orientalarchitecture.com. "Asian Historical Architecture: A Photographic Survey". www.orientalarchitecture.com.
  6. ^ orientalarchitecture.com. "Asian Historical Architecture: a Photographic Survey". www.orientalarchitecture.com. Retrieved 2016-05-14.
  7. ^ Fletcher, Sir Banister; Cruickshank, Dan (1996-01-01). Sir Banister Fletcher's a History of Architecture. Architectural Press. ISBN 9780750622677.
  8. ^ a b "Korea - Three Kingdoms Period". www.asianinfo.org.
  9. ^ Il-yeon: Samguk Yusa: Legends and History of the Three Kingdoms of Ancient Korea, translated by Tae-Hung Ha and Grafton K. Mintz. Book Three, chapter 70, page 179-181. Silk Pagoda (2006). ISBN 1-59654-348-5
  10. ^ a b "Korea - Three Kingdoms Period". www.asianinfo.org. Retrieved 2016-05-14.
  11. ^ "Korea - Shilla Period Sculpture (57 B.C.- A.D. 668)". www.asianinfo.org. Retrieved 2016-05-14.

References edit

  • OCPRI (Office of Cultural Properties, Research Institute). 1984. Hwangyong-sa Site Excavation Report I [Hwangyong-sa Temple Excavation Site Report I]. Three Vols. Office of Cultural Properties, Research Institute, Seoul.

External links edit

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hwangnyongsa.
  • Asian Historical Architecture: Hwangnyeongsa
  • UNESCO
  • Hwangnyongsa's officials website[permanent dead link]
  • Hwangnyongsa Temple Site, Gyeongju

35°47′20″N 129°13′36″E / 35.78889°N 129.22667°E / 35.78889; 129.22667

April 11, 2024
hwangnyongsa, korean, 황룡사, alternatively, hwangnyong, temple, hwangryongsa, buddhist, temple, city, gyeongju, south, korea, miniature, reconstruction, what, main, pagoda, have, once, looked, like, scale, korean, namehangul황룡사hanja皇龍寺revised, romanizationhwangr. Hwangnyongsa Korean 황룡사 alternatively Hwangnyong Temple or Hwangryongsa was a Buddhist temple in the city of Gyeongju South Korea HwangnyongsaA miniature reconstruction of what the main pagoda may have once looked like 1 10 scale Korean nameHangul황룡사Hanja皇龍寺Revised RomanizationHwangryongsaMcCune ReischauerHwangryongsaCompleted in the 7th century the enormous 9 story structure was built entirely with wood with interlocking design with no iron nails It had a standing total height of 68 m 1 223 ft or 80 m 262 ft making it one of the tallest structures in East Asia at the time of its construction Only the massive foundation stones of the temple remain in current times Hwangryongsa was the center of state sponsored Buddhism during the Silla and Unified Silla eras which were cultural beacons of Buddhism during its time 2 Its name means Emperor Imperial Dragon Temple 2 Archaeological excavations and other scientific studies of the temple began in April 1976 OCPRI clarification needed 1984 and continue today A replica of the building called Hwangnyongwon Korean 황룡원 now exists in Gyeongju within the Bomun Tourism Complex The building is used to host events including conferences banquets and meetings It also operates as a hotel with 45 guest rooms available 3 4 Contents 1 History 2 Legends 3 Dimensions 4 Gallery 5 See also 6 Notes 7 References 8 External linksHistory editHwangnyongsa was built during the Silla period under the patronage of the Silla royal family on a plain encircled by mountains near the royal palace compound of Banwolseong Half Moon Palace Construction began in 553 under the reign of King Jinheung and was not fully completed until 644 King Jinheung originally intended for the temple to be the site of a new palace but when a dragon was seen on the proposed site a temple was commissioned instead 5 Hwangnyongsa was designed to be a place where monks prayed for the welfare of the nation by asking for the divine protection of the Buddha and a means to impress foreign dignitaries 5 Following the defeat of Baekje in the 660s the Baekje architect Abiji was commissioned to build a nine story wooden pagoda at the site and labored with two hundred artisans to complete the pagoda 1 This fact indicates that the Baekje had superior knowledge of wooden architecture The nine stories supposedly represented the nine nations of East Asia and Silla s future conquest of those states 6 The pagoda stood until it was burned by Mongolian invasions in 1238 No wooden architecture from the Silla people survives today but the ruins of Hwangnyongsa suggest a Goguryeo influence 7 The temple site in a valley within Gyeongju National Park near Toham Mountain and about 150 yards 140 m from Bunhwangsa Temple was excavated in 1972 revealing the temple layout and covering 40 000 artifacts 5 8 Legends editBuddhism was strongly resisted by the nobles of Silla while the king personally supported the new religion The king s Grand Secretary Ichadon suggested to whom that he forge the king s royal seal and create an order that the people adopt the new religion When the forgery was discovered by the nobles Ichadon suggested that he be made the scapegoat and that through his death the power of Buddha be made manifest The king agreed to the plan The nobles were predictably outraged when they discovered Ichadon s forgery and the king ordered his execution Legend has it that when Ichadon was executed a series of miracles occurred which proved the power and reality of the Buddhist faith and the nobles converted to the new state religion Ichadon s sacrifice was the impetus for the building of Hwangnyongsa Temple 5 Another legend concerns the giant golden Buddha statue that the temple possessed It was cast in the reign of King Jinheung as the temple centerpiece The legend states that the gold for the statue came from King Ashoka of India 9 Ashoka had apparently attempted to cast a golden triad but failed He then put the gold in a boat along with scale models of Bodhisattvas Each country that received the boat was equally unable to cast the statues and not until the boat had arrived in Silla could a statue be cast Dimensions editOnly the massive foundation stones of the temple remain in current times The original complex took seventeen years to complete 5 The main hall was 155 feet 47 m in length and 55 feet 17 m in width 5 The longest outer wall of the temple was 288 meters in length and the area enclosed by the outer walls covered approximately 80 000 square meters 10 The temple ruins also contain pedestal stones which were for monumental Buddhist statues One statue of the Sakyamuni Buddha was five meters tall 8 11 The temple was originally arranged in the three Halls one Pagoda style which meant that the pagoda was in the center of the complex and flanked by three main halls on the left right and behind the central pagoda 10 The famous nine story pagoda which was commissioned by Queen Seondeok after the main temple was finished was the largest Korean pagoda ever built as well as being the tallest structure in East Asia and the tallest wooden structure in the world at the time of its completion It was reported to be 263 feet 80 m tall and the body was made entirely of wood 5 Only its foundation stones remain today but they attest to the mammoth proportions of the original structure The pagoda had a foundation area of 6 084 square feet 565 2 m2 was supported by eight pillars on each side and had sixty foundation stones 5 Gallery edit nbsp A part of Hwangnyonsa remains nbsp From a spot which once had been the main entrance to the temple nbsp A model of old Gyeongju The pagoda at Hwangnyongsa Temple towers over the city nbsp Picture of the Panorama of the Hwangnyongsa nbsp Picture of the Nine story pagoda of the Hwangnyongsa nbsp Stones to support a flag pole nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp See also editKorean Buddhism Korean Buddhist temples History of Korea List of tallest structures built before the 20th centuryNotes edit a b Lee Soyoung Leidy Denise Patry 2013 Silla Korea s golden kingdom Lee Soyoung 1971 Leidy Denise Patry Metropolitan Museum of Art New York N Y Samsŏng Chŏnja National Endowment for the Arts Han guk Kukche Kyoryu Chaedan New York p 22 ISBN 9781588395023 OCLC 862096677 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint location missing publisher link a b Chung David Oh Kang nam 2001 04 19 Syncretism The Religious Context of Christian Beginnings in Korea SUNY Press ISBN 9780791449424 Hwangnyongwon k mice visitkorea or kr Retrieved 2023 09 10 황룡원 www hwangnyongwon com Retrieved 2023 09 10 a b c d e f g h orientalarchitecture com Asian Historical Architecture A Photographic Survey www orientalarchitecture com orientalarchitecture com Asian Historical Architecture a Photographic Survey www orientalarchitecture com Retrieved 2016 05 14 Fletcher Sir Banister Cruickshank Dan 1996 01 01 Sir Banister Fletcher s a History of Architecture Architectural Press ISBN 9780750622677 a b Korea Three Kingdoms Period www asianinfo org Il yeon Samguk Yusa Legends and History of the Three Kingdoms of Ancient Korea translated by Tae Hung Ha and Grafton K Mintz Book Three chapter 70 page 179 181 Silk Pagoda 2006 ISBN 1 59654 348 5 a b Korea Three Kingdoms Period www asianinfo org Retrieved 2016 05 14 Korea Shilla Period Sculpture 57 B C A D 668 www asianinfo org Retrieved 2016 05 14 References editOCPRI Office of Cultural Properties Research Institute 1984 Hwangyong sa Site Excavation Report I Hwangyong sa Temple Excavation Site Report I Three Vols Office of Cultural Properties Research Institute Seoul External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hwangnyongsa Asian Historical Architecture Hwangnyeongsa The Center for Information on Korean Culture UNESCO Jennyhouse Architecture and Skyscraper Community of Korea Hwangnyongsa s officials website permanent dead link Hwangnyongsa Temple Site Gyeongju 35 47 20 N 129 13 36 E 35 78889 N 129 22667 E 35 78889 129 22667 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Hwangnyongsa amp oldid 1215429749, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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