GWANCHOKSA TEMPLE

This small temple overlooking the valley is pleasant in itself but it attracts crowds for its statue. One enters through a stone tunnel gate, Haetalmun, ("Gate of Detachment"), located in the middle of the ascetic path leading to the temple and symbolically to liberation. Behind a small hall, a typical Goryeo square stone lantern is said to date from 967 and an altar for prostrations made of stone with three lotuses from the Goryeo period. Behind it is the statue of the Buddha of the Future Maitreya (Mireuk in Korean), the highest ancient stone statue in Korea (18.12m). Here is the legend of this statue. One day, a woman heard a baby crying. She followed the sounds but no baby, just a huge rock. It was decided to build the statue with this rock. It is said to have been built in 967 by a local craftsman. If one has ever seen statues of Goryeo, one will immediately recognize the inimitable style, both simple and mysterious, of that time. The Buddha has a long head with a square hat. Behind it, on the rock, you will see ancient calligraphy.

On the road to Nonsan is the Gyebaekjanggun Yujeok Jeongseungji where one of the last battles between Silla and Baekje took place in 660. General Gyebaek de Baekje had to stand up with an army of 5,000 men to the troops of Silla and Tang, who numbered ten times as many. There were four successive battles, but he lost the last one and died. There is his tomb and a small exhibition hall dedicated to him.