Goseoksa Temple (Pohang)

About this place

Goseoksa Temple on Mt. Myobongsan in Janggi-myeon, Nam-gu, Pohang, is a branch temple of Bulguksa, the head temple of the 11th district of the Korean Jogye Order of Buddhism. According to the founding legend, in the 7th year of Queen Seondeok of Silla (638 AD), three rays of light shone from the east into the palace in Gyeongju for three consecutive days. On the queen's order, National Preceptor Hyeneung went to find the source of the light and discovered a rock radiating an auspicious glow. A Buddha image was carved into the rock and a temple built there; it was named Goseoksa ('ancient rock temple') because the light arose from an old rock. The current buildings include the Bogwangjeon main hall, a mountain spirit shrine, and residential quarters. The Bogwangjeon is a three-bay jusimpo-style building under a hipped-and-gabled roof; it enshrines a seated stone Buddha (281 cm tall) carved from natural rock.