Buseoksa Temple, located in Yeongju City, Gyeongsang Province, is a temple of the Hwagyeom Order built by Buddhist monk Uisang in the 16th year of the reign of King Munmu of Silla (676).
The name of Buseoksa Temple literally means "a stone floating above the ground," which is related to the legend of when the great monk Uisang founded Buseoksa Temple.
Legends surrounding Ushikuji Temple
According to the Annals of the Three Kingdoms, in the first year of the reign of King Munmu of Silla (1), when the great monk Uisang went to China to study the Flower Jewel, there was a woman named Seonmyo who admired him. Uisang studied the principles of the Flower Jewel from Tripitaka Master Jiegom at Jizo Temple on Mount Zhongnamsan in Chang'an, China for 661 years, attaining enlightenment before returning home.
When Seonmyo heard the news late and rushed to the pier, she found that the ship the Great Master was on had already disappeared. Seonmyo threw herself into the sea and transformed into a dragon, and escorted the ship carrying the Great Master Uisang back home safely.
Later, when the great monk Uisang was ordered by the king to build a temple here at the foot of Mount Fenghuang in order to spread the teachings of Kegon Buddhism, many non-believers who lived there opposed his plan. At this time, Seonmyo Shenlong performed a miracle by lifting a rock into the air, driving away the non-believers.
Therefore, this stone was called "Floating Stone" and the temple was named "Floating Temple". It is said that Zenmyojinryu transformed into a stone dragon to protect Floating Temple and was buried under the garden of Muryojuden.
In the book "Wolliji" by Yi Junhwan, who lived during the reign of King Yeongjo of the Joseon Dynasty, it is written that "There are small gaps between the top and bottom of the rocks, and if you insert a string and pull it, you will find that it is a floating stone that can go in and out without getting caught."
In 2018, Buseoksa Temple was one of seven sites designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site under the name "Mountain Temples, Mountain Monasteries of Korea."
Muryangsujeong Hall at Buseoksa Temple (National Treasure No. 18)
Muryangsujeon Hall of Buseoksa Temple in Yeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, is a wooden building that was renovated in 1376 and is Korea's National Treasure No. 18. It is said to be the oldest wooden building in Korea along with Geungnakjeon Hall of Bongjeongsa Temple in Andong, North Gyeongsang Province. The exact date of construction is unknown, but it is believed to be a building from the mid-Goryeo Dynasty.
Stone lantern in front of Muryojuden Hall (National Treasure No. 17)
This stone lantern was made during the Unified Silla period, which is older than Muryangsujeon. It is a masterpiece with beautifully carved bodhisattva figures on all four sides and a lotus flower pattern on the bottom of the stone lantern, and is extremely well-balanced overall. Like the stone lantern in front of the corner of Hwaeomsa Temple, it is placed in front of the center of the main hall because light is considered a symbol of the truth of Buddhism and the stone lantern serves as a symbolic light illuminating the front of the main hall.
During the Goryeo and Joseon periods, stone lanterns began to be placed in pairs in front of temples as they lost their role as lamps and became simple lighting fixtures.
| Store name | Boseoksa Temple / Boseoksa / 부석사 |
| Address | 345, Boseoksa-ro, Yeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do 345 XNUMX |
| Admission fee | Free |
| Tel | 054-633-3464 |
| Site | www.pusoksa.org |
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