Baengnyulsa (Gyeongju)

About this place

Baengnyulsa, set halfway up Sogeumgangsan to the north of Gyeongju, is a temple honoring Ichadon, who was martyred to secure official recognition of Buddhism in the 14th year of King Beopheung of Silla (527), and it is a sacred site of Silla Buddhism. According to records written in the reign of King Heondeok, Ichadon was martyred while carrying out King Beopheung's command to officially recognize Buddhism and to build a temple; when he was beheaded, white blood is said to have gushed from Ichadon's severed neck and a rain of flowers fell, among other strange events. Seeing this, even the officials who had opposed the recognition of Buddhism are said to have changed their minds, and it is told that Ichadon's wife built Jachusa at the spot where his severed head flew and fell, in order to pray for the repose of his soul. Baengnyulsa is presumed to be the Jachusa mentioned in this record. The buildings of Baengnyulsa were rebuilt after burning down during the Japanese invasions of 1592, and the stylobate retains part of the Silla-period style. The standing gilt-bronze Bhaisajyaguru (Medicine) Buddha once enshrined in the main hall was made around the same time as the seated gilt-bronze Amitabha Buddha and the seated gilt-bronze Vairocana Buddha of Bulguksa, and these three statues are known as the three great gilt-bronze Buddhas of the Unified Silla period. The standing gilt-bronze Bhaisajyaguru Buddha and Ichadon's stone monument are held by the Gyeongju National Museum.