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KCNA Pyongyang Times

Pohyon Temple houses many national architectural assets

Date: 23/09/2020 | Source: Pyongyang Times | Read original version at source

The Taeung Hall and octagonal 13-storey pagoda at the Pohyon Temple in Mt Myohyang.

Pohyon Temple, a building in the period of Koryo Kingdom, is located on Mt Myohyang, one of the celebrated mountains of Korea.

After the construction of the temple in 1042, the temple was rebuilt on several occasions.

The temple consisted of 24 buildings and towers, but more than 20 blocks of buildings and tens of thousands of historical relics were destroyed and burned away due to the indiscriminate bombing of the enemies during the past Fatherland Liberation War.

After the war, several buildings including Taeung Hall and Manse Pavilion were restored to their original states.

The Taeung Hall, main building of the temple, is the most magnificent and majestic among the buildings of the Pohyon Temple with elegant form of roof, golden paintings in silk pattern, delicate ornamental sculptures and colourful paintings over all building parts and elements.

The Manse Pavilion standing uniquely on the sloping geographical position fully exhibits the gracefulness of the building in perfect harmony with gorgeous red and blue paintings and nine-storey pagoda in the front yard.

As the Pohyon Temple keeps the 80 000 Complete Collection of Buddhist Scriptures and their wood blocks in their original state, it adds dignity to the building which had been famous historically as the major base of the spread of Buddhism in Korea.

The temple is also associated with the patriotic struggle of ancestors. When foreign invaders set fire to the temple of Mt Myohyang in 1216, the Koryo people fought against aggressors and killed over 2 400 enemies including their commander.

During the Imjin Patriotic War between 1592 and 1598, Saint Sosan aroused monks across the country to organize the army and fought bravely despite his advanced age of over 70, rendering distinguished services in the fight against foreign invaders.

The Pohyon Temple, along with the beautiful scenery of Mt Myohyang, is well preserved and managed as one of the priceless national cultural heritages showing the medieval architecture of Korea.

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