BEOPJUSA

This temple is located on Mount Songnisan. Its name means "the place of Buddha's teachings". Founded in 553, rebuilt in 776, it has now reached gigantic proportions, with over 60 buildings and 70 hermitages. At the time, it housed 3,000 monks. It was burnt down by the Japanese in 1592 during the Imjin War, but rebuilt in 1624. Most of its buildings date from this period and are real treasures. In the center of its unusually flat, open inner courtyard stands Korea's largest standing bronze Buddha. Standing 33 m high, this bronze Buddha of the future was cast in 1988 from a single-piece mold, making it the tallest Buddha of its kind in Asia. It's hollow, and a staircase leads up to its head, but you can't climb it. However, you can visit the underground prayer room. This Buddha was erected for the reunification of the country. Opposite is another famous structure, the Palsangjeon. This five-storey wooden hall is absolutely unique in Korea. While such structures were common under Baekche, Silla and Goryeo, none remain today apart from this one. It dates back to 1624 and its central pillar reaches a height of 21 m. It houses 1,000 statues of Buddha and 8 panels depicting his life(pal means 8). The Daeungbojeon main hall, at the far end of the courtyard, is Korea's third-largest hall of this era (it was founded in 553, but rebuilt in 1624). It reaches 22 m in height and houses 3 immense Buddhas, the largest of which is 5.5 m high. Its two-storey roof requires 315 pillars and beams to support it. Among the temple's other treasures is the Churaeam, an ancient bas-relief of the Buddha carved on a granite boulder. There's also a lantern bearing the images of 4 devas; another lantern dating from 720 is supported by a pedestal carved with 2 lions; a stone cistern also dating from 720 is lotus-shaped and represents the western paradise. There's also a huge iron rice container, 3 m wide. Cast in 720, it gives an idea of the community that lived in this temple at the time. An iron flagpole, originally erected in 1007, had to be rebuilt in 1972. At its tip, a huge painting of the Buddha is hung on his birthday. Finally, in the main hall, there's a folding screen calligraphied by King Seonjo (1567-1608). This is one of Korea's most famous temples, and a great place to stay. A must-see when visiting Cheongju.