An'guk-sa

The An'guk -sa is a Buddhist temple in North Korea. It was founded in 503 by a monk Hyŏnuk ( 법사 현욱 ). The name means " Temple of the Peaceful country." From the founding period of the temple nothing remains. The temple complex today comprises the main hall Taeungbo - Jon ( 1785 ), the Torpavillon T'aep'yŏng -nu, a residential wing for monks and a memorial pavilion, also a pagoda from the Koryo period and a 600 -year-old ginkgo. In the North Korean society in which according to the constitution there is religious freedom, actually no room for freedom of worship is granted but, also, this temple has lost its religious function and only applies as a historic structure. The temple is listed as National Treasure No. 34. He served several historical films. The temple is located in the province of P'yŏngan - namdo on the southern slope of the mountain Pongnin -san.

Taeungbo - Jon

The main hall Taeungbo - Jon factors in addition to the same hall in the temple Pŏpchu -sa ( Beopjusa ) and Hall Kakhwang - Jon ( Gakhwangjeon ) in the temple Hwaŏm -sa ( Hwaeomsa ) (both in South Korea) to the largest temple halls Korea. The present building was rebuilt in 1785, but probably contains remnants of the previous building. It is a wooden building on a rectangular plan of six columns in width and depth five pillars (17 x 13.2 m) and has a dual-stepped roof (height: 13 m ). This roof shape feigns Zweistöckigkeit, but in fact the hall is story, since no false ceilings are retracted inside. The upper level of the roof is designed as Fußwalmdach and rests on ten 8 m high round pillars which stand freely in the interior and are not visible from the outside. The outer walls of the upper floor sitting on cross bars that are drawn between these inner columns and the columns of the exterior walls of the ground floor.

The lower roof level resting on ornate consoles that as a result of several reconstructions show a mixed picture: at the front of the hall they have the shape gently of curved clouds or lotus buds on the side walls and the back of the more conventional form of a wide, sweeping ox tongues. On the upper roof level, the consoles are designed simple. Noteworthy are the original ornaments: On the consoles at the two corners of the front sitting dragon with human dragon leaders inside between consoles winged human figures.

The wings of the five doors are richly decorated with floral carvings in openwork. All wooden parts are painted inside and colorful: the red columns, the beams, brackets and rafters and the coffered ceiling multi-colored.

Inside the hall is a wide altar with three Buddha statues in gilded wood. Vairochana is flanked by Sakyamuni and Amitabha. The altar is surmounted by a very elaborate three-story canopy. The Buddhist hanging pictures behind the sculptures are more recent.

T'aep'yŏng -nu

The Torpavillon T'aep'yŏng -nu is a long, low building of six blocks of four columns ( 19.3 x 6.8 m) with Fußwalmdach. The front wall and side walls are closed; the back wall of the courtyard is open. By the middle part of the pavilion one enters the inner Tempelhof, left and right of passage floors are drawn in seat height.

Over the passage of a king Sunjo (reigned 1800-1834 ) hangs written blackboard with the words T'aep'yŏng -nu ( " Hall of Peace" ).

Additional points of interest

To the right of the main hall there is a small pavilion ( 주필 대 ), which was built to commemorate a visit by King Sonjo (reigned 1567-1608 ). The king had fled during the Japanese invasion in 1592 and his court after Uiju and had made ​​a stop on his return in the temple.

The nine -story pagoda from the second half of the Koryo period is decorated with lotus flowers. The previously missing ninth floor was recently added.

A stone inscription from the year 1774 with an inscription in Chinese ( Hanmun ) recorded the history of the temple.

Before the temple stands a 600 -year-old, 27 m tall ginkgo tree ( Natural Monument No. 31), which carries 100 kg of fruit per year today.