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Ssangbongsa Temple stands
on Jeung-ri, Iyang-myeon, Hwasun-gun.
It was built by Zen Priest Cheolgam
in the 8th year of King Gyeongmun(868)
in the Unified Silla Period. Ssangbongsa
was named after Cheolgam's pen name.
It has Cheolgam Stupa(National Treasure
No. 57) and Monument(Treasture No. 170).
Some believers offering Buddhist service
accidently tipped over the candlelight
on the Buddha's Birthday(April 8) in
1984 and the temple was burnt and then
rebuilt.
¢Á Cheolgam
Stupa which is the best stupa in Korea(National
No. 57)
This stupa stands at the back hill
of Ssangbongsa. Its shape is octagonal
and round. It is the best work of
stupa built in the Silla Period and
has very splendid decoration. Cheolgam's
name was Park Do-yun and his pen name
was Ssangbong. He was born at Hyuam
in Haeju(Bongsan in Hwanghae-do) in
789 and was of a powerful local family.
He entered priesthood to Gwisinsa,
located at Mt. Moak in Gimje, one
of Hwaeom ten temples, at the age
of 17 in 815 and learned Hwaeomgyeong
for 10 years. In 825, he went to Dang
China and trained under the Bowon
in Namjeon. After Namjeon passed away,
he stayed for 13 years more there
and returned to Silla. He stayed shortly
at Jangdamsa located at Mt. Geumgang,
moved to Ssangbongsa in 855, and passed
away in 868(the 8th year of Kong Gyeongmun).
¢Á Cheolgam
Monument(Treasure No. 170)
A Monument records high priest's work
from birth to death to memory his
work. It is normally built beside
stupa and consists of a base in the
shape of a turtle, a tombstone, and
a head. This monument stands beside
the Cheolgam Stupa and remains only
a base in the shape of a turtle and
a head without a tombstone. The base
in the shape of a turtle 1,4m high
and follows typical Unified Silla-style.
The center of turtle's back has a
site of a tombstone in the shape of
a rectangle. Cloud-pattern and upside-down
32 lotus leaves were engraved. Chinese
characters show that it was Cheolgam's.
A material is granite.
¢Á Wooden pagoda, Daeungjeon
Daeungjeon is a hall having Seokgayeorae(Buddha).
Seokgayeorae is a figure of Buddha.
Hyeopsi Bosal has Munsu Bosal and
Boyeon Bosal or Gwanuem Bosal and
Mireuk Bosal, but singularly, Ssangbongsa
has Ananjonja and Gaseopjonja, Buddha's
disciples. Daeungjeon at Ssangbongsa
was built in the middle of the Joseon
Dynasty and was square-shaped three-story
building. It is a very rare wooden
pagoda style to see in Korea with
Palsangjeon at Beopjusa Temple, Mireukjeon
in Gimje, and tree-story wooden pagoda
at Botapsa Temple in Jincheon, Chungbuk.
A believer started fire by mistake
and the building was rebuilt in 1984.
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