Gakyeon Temple's Birojeon Hall Designated National Treasure, 60 Years After Housing Buddha Statue

The Birojeon hall at Gakyeon Temple in Goesan, housing the National Treasure 'Seok Mirojanamul Jwasang' (Stone Vairocana Buddha Triad), has officially been designated a National Treasure itself. The Goesan County office presented the designation certificate to the temple's chief monk, Beopgong Sunim, on August 14.

This new designation comes exactly 60 years after the stone Buddha statue within the hall was first recognized as a National Treasure. While the exact founding date of the Birojeon hall is unknown, historical records and architectural styles suggest it was rebuilt in 1499 and subsequently renovated multiple times between the 16th and 18th centuries. The hall features a hip-and-gable roof with three bays in the front and three in the side, showcasing the 'dapo' style of bracket system common in the early Joseon Dynasty. Its foundation stones and decorative elements also incorporate architectural fragments from the Goryeo Dynasty, highlighting its significant historical and architectural value.

The National Heritage Administration cited the hall's clear historical record through its renovations, its architectural structure and style, and its balanced proportions and aesthetic qualities as reasons for its designation. The stone Vairocana Buddha statue, seated on its pedestal with a halo, was designated a National Treasure on February 28, 1966. It is considered a late Unified Silla period artwork, characterized by its elegant yet ornate appearance.

With this latest addition, Gakyeon Temple now possesses four National Treasures, including the Tongildaesa Pagoda and its stele. This brings the total number of National Treasures in Goesan County to eight, further solidifying the region's cultural heritage.

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The Birojeon has a clear history of renovations, and its architectural structure, style, balanced proportions, and formative qualities are of high historical, academic, and artistic value, leading to its designation as a National Treasure.