Yeongdeok Jangyuksa Daeungjeon to Be Designated a Treasure

Likely built in the late 17th century
Interior ornamentation confirmed to have been created in stages

The Korea Heritage Service announced on November 11 that it will designate Yeongdeok Jangyuksa Daeungjeon, believed to have been built in the late 17th century, as a Treasure. It will gather public comments for one month and make a final decision after deliberation by the National Heritage Committee.

Yeongdeok Jangyuksa Daeungjeon/Korea Heritage Service.

According to historical accounts, Jangyuksa was founded by Naong Hyegeun in 1355, the fourth year of the reign of King Gongmin of Goryeo. The exact date when Daeungjeon was built is unknown. However, records of repairs to the temple in 1677 and an inscription plaque at Daeungjeon dated 1705 point to the possibility that it was built in the late 17th century. Tree-ring dating of some pillars confirmed that timber felled around 1638 was used.

Daeungjeon is a gable-roofed building with three bays at the front and three at the sides. The pillars behind the Buddha statues are set back toward the rear to provide space for people to walk around and offer prayers. Its bracket system combines the ikgong style with decorative elements from the multi-cluster bracket system. Inside, the building has a stepped coffered ceiling and a sloped ceiling, and a roof-shaped canopy was installed above the altar.

The interior ornamentation was created in stages after the building was constructed, continuing through the mid-18th century. Records confirm that the Buddha statues were regilded in 1736, Buddhist paintings were made in 1764, and dancheong decorative painting was applied in 1765.

The career of Duhun, a monk-painter who took part in making the Buddhist paintings in 1764, offers insight into the relationship between Buddhist paintings and dancheong. Records of his work also remain in the hanging paintings at Beopjusa (1766) and Tongdosa (1767).

A Korea Heritage Service official explained, "The dancheong patterns at Daeungjeon resemble the decorative patterns in the two hanging paintings, suggesting that Buddhist paintings and dancheong may have influenced each other." The official added, "The building is of great historical, artistic, and academic value because it showcases both the characteristics of temple architecture and Buddhist art in the Yeongnam region during the late Joseon period."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.