Geumsansa

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Geumsansa

Changdeokgung Injeongjeon

Korean name

Hangul	금산사
Hanja	金山寺
Revised Romanization	Geumsansa
McCune-Reischauer	Kŭmsansa

Geumsansa is a head temple of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism. It stands on the slopes of Moak-san in Gimje City, Jeollabuk-do, South Korea. The temple was first founded in 599 and became the main temple for practicing the Maitreya faith during the Unified Silla era. The temple was greatly expanded in 766 and the statue of the Great Maitreya was enshrined in the main hall. In 1079 various additional sanctuaries were erected.

Several National treasures of South Korea are located on the temple grounds. These include a detailed lotus-shaped stone pedestal (base for a statue), Sokyon Tae, dating to the 10th century cut from one solid piece of stone. National treasure # 23.

Maitreya Hall, housing a large Mireuksa Buddha (Buddha of the Future), is a three story wooden building, unique among Korean Buddhist halls, (re-)constructed in 1635. National treasure #62.

The hexagonal multi-stored stupa, Yukgak Tachung Soktap, is made of slate where most Korean stupas are made of granite. National treasure #27.