Gwisinsa Temple (Gimje)

About this place

This is a sub-temple of Geumsansa Temple (head temple of the 17th district of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism) in Cheongdo-ri, Geumsan-myeon, Gimje-si. Gwisinsa is said to have been established in 676 (the 16th year of King Munmu) by the Venerable Uisang, though there are also claims it was originally founded as a royal inner shrine (naewonsa) during the reign of King Beop of Baekje. The original name at the time of founding was said to have been Guksinsa (National Spirit Temple). Later in the late Unified Silla period, after reconstruction by the monk Doyun, it was renamed Gwisinsa. During the Goryeo period, National Teacher Wonmyeong (1090–1141) rebuilt it, and at that time it was called Gusunsa. After several partial repairs and major reconstructions, the Daejeokgwangjeon and other buildings were repaired in 1934, and the name was changed back to Gwisinsa. Gwisinsa was originally a large temple that even overshadowed Geumsansa, and during the late Goryeo period about 300 Japanese pirates are said to have stationed there. Today it has declined to a small and modest temple. Major cultural properties of Gwisinsa include the National Treasure Daejeokgwangjeon, three-story stone pagoda, a stupa, and stone guardian animals. The three-story stone pagoda is presumed to have been made at the same time as the founding of Gwisinsa, and is an outstanding work expressing the beauty of the Silla period. The stupa is in the middle of paddy fields at the entrance of Cheongdo-won village, indicating that at its peak the area where the stupa stood was within the temple precincts. The Gwisinsan stone guardian animals are a unique form of stone sculpture, with a phallus-like stone column prominently inserted into the back of a seated stone guardian animal. Various theories explain this as having been placed to suppress the ground, or erected by the Baekje royal family to pray for blessings.