"Daegwangjeon Hall at Sinansa Temple in Geumsan" Designated as a National Treasure

Confirmed 16th-century Construction through Dendrochronological Analysis
Traditional Techniques Preserved Intact

The Cultural Heritage Administration announced on September 9 that it had designated "Daegwangjeon Hall at Sinansa Temple in Geumsan," which embodies unique architectural techniques of 16th-century Buddhist architecture, as a national treasure.

Exterior view of Daegwangjeon Hall, Sinsansa Temple in Geumsan / Photo by National Heritage Administration.

This temple building has been scientifically verified to have been constructed in the 16th century. During its dismantling and repair in 2007, an inscription revealed that it underwent reconstruction in 1638 and additional repairs in 1840. Dendrochronological analysis in 2023 demonstrated that seven wooden components—including two columns, two beams, and three pyeongbang (crossbeams)—were made from timber dating back to 1583.

The structure features five bays at the front and three at the sides, clearly reflecting the architectural style of the 16th century. Its most notable characteristic is its distinctive multi-bracket (dapo) style. Although the building has a gabled roof sloping only to the front and back, wooden brackets (gongpo) are placed at the sides and corners to distribute the roof’s weight. Traditional construction methods are also evident, such as columns carved to be thickest in the center (baehullim), raised corner columns (gwi-soseum), and rounded ends on both sides of the beams (somae-geotgi).

The interior also features a unique structural arrangement. The tall main columns (goju) are placed in line with the side columns, and the altar is set centrally, exhibiting a layout typical of an earlier period than the late Joseon era. The central bay (eokan) utilizes a hip-and-gable roof form, with a child pillar (dongja-gidung) on the main beam supporting the middle beam. In contrast, in the adjacent bays (hyeobkan), the tall columns are directly connected to the middle beam atop the main beam. Additionally, the use of straight rather than curved bridging beams (chungnyang) to reinforce the lateral strength of the roof is a distinctive feature.

A representative of the Cultural Heritage Administration said, "Despite several repairs, the building has retained its original 16th- and 17th-century materials and joinery techniques, making it well deserving of management as a national treasure."

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