Gyeongju Inwang-dong Temple Site

About this place

The Inwang-dong Temple Site in Gyeongju is presumed to be the site of Inyongsa Temple. According to the Samguk Yusa, Inyongsa was built to pray for the safety of Kim Inmun (629–694), the second son of King Taejong Muyeol. After the fall of Goguryeo, Tang China sought to conquer Silla as well and imprisoned Kim Inmun, who was residing in Tang. The people of Silla opened a Guanyin Assembly praying for his return, but when Kim Inmun died en route home in the 3rd year of King Hyoso (694), it was converted into an Amitabha Assembly. Inyongsa was the first temple in Silla built for a private individual — rather than a monk or king — revealing the religious practices of the time. Four excavations between 2002 and 2011 confirmed a twin-pagoda monastic layout, a rare Ya-shaped building foundation, pagoda sites, main hall, lecture hall, covered walkway, pond, and well.