Gwanchoksa Temple (Nonsan)

About this place

Gwanchoksa (Nonsan) is a temple on the eastern slope of Banyasan Mountain in the southern Nonsan city area, ranked as the first of Nonsan's Eight Scenic Spots. The temple's foremost attraction is a stone Maitreya Bodhisattva standing statue known as the 'Eunjin Mireuk' (Eunjin Maitreya), a 18-meter tall stone Buddha with a warm and compassionate face often described as the 'Smile of Baekje.' The stone lantern, five-story stone pagoda, and stone gate standing before the Eunjin Mireuk are also precious relics. It is said that rotating the axis of the sutra repository (yujangtae) is equivalent to reading the scriptures themselves. Among the cultural assets at Gwanchoksa, the stone Maitreya Bodhisattva standing statue is a national treasure; the stone lantern is a treasure; the stone gate is a Chungcheongnam-do cultural heritage material; and the stone Vairocana standing statue is a Chungcheongnam-do intangible cultural heritage. Standing in the front courtyard of Gwanchoksa, the bountiful Nonsan Plain comes into full view.