Buinsa (부인사) is a Buddhist temple on the slopes of Palgongsan, in northern Daegu. The temple is an affiliate of Donghwasa.
This site, where mostly vineyards can be seen now, holds a great symbolic significance for Korean history and for Korean's spirit of independence and justice.
Established in the 7th century of Queen Seondeok of the Shilla Dynasty, Buinsa is said to have been named in reference to the Queen. The word 'Bu-in' means "Madam", an honorable Korean word for a married woman, so this is another indicator of the temple's dedication to the Queen. During the Goryeo Period (918-1392), when Buddhism rose to such prominence as to be designated as the state religion, this temple played a crucial role in defending the country against northern invaders. The King and his subjects devoted themselves to making a complete set of printing blocks for all of the Buddhist scriptures (Chojo Tripitaka) in the hopes of defending the country, not with destructive weapons, but with the power of Buddha. When completed, the Tripitaka was stored at Buinsa. This Tripitaka actually preceded the Tripitaka Koreana at Haeinsa by about 200 years. However, the scriptures were burned and destroyed when the Khitans attacked in 1232, in the 19th year of King Gojong's reign of the Goryeo Period. In addition to this, the temple also served as headquarters when Buddhist monks rose in revolt against the tyranny of the ruling military clique in the late Goryeo Period. However, after the temple and scriptures weren't burnt down in the Mongolian invasion of 1232, the site lay abandoned for centuries, until eventually being restored to its current state.
[edit] Monuments
[edit] Buinsa Stupa
The stupa at Buinsa is a monument for the cremated remains of a renowned Buddhist monk, and is designated as Daegu Tangible Cultural Property No. 28.
Having been found in a fallen condition about 200 meters west of Buinsa, this granite stupa was placed in its current position at the temple after several relocations. Following the basic pattern for stone stupas during the Unified Silla Period (668-935), the stupa is octagonal in shape and consists of a base, a body, and a capstone. The original finial was missing and has been newly replaced. The lower base stone, square in shape, has lotus petals and lions carved on the upper side. The octagonal middle base stone is embellished with the designs of animals, young monks, and flowers. The main body stone is slightly wider at the center than at the upper and lower ends and the inscription "Euntong-dang" is carved in Hanja on the front surface of the stone. Given the fact that the monk's name is generally written in the surface of the stupa, Euntong-dang is assumed to be the pen name of the monk whose remains are kept in this stupa. The stupa is generally thought to date from the middle Joseon Period (1392-1910).
[edit] West Pagoda of Buinsa
The twin pagodas located on the east and west of Buinsa were in severely damaged condition when a team of researchers conducted a relics survey in 1964. Only the western one has been restored to its original form. The pagoda follows the basic pattern of stone pagodas, with a two-tiered base and a three-story body. The first base stone has one pillar at each corner and two inner pillars, while the second base has one supportive center pillar in addition to the four corner ones. Between the first and second base is a flat panel of two layers composed of 4 stone pieces. On each story, the main section of the pagoda is a single stone body with supportive stones at the corners and a five-stepped cornice above as a roof stone. On top of the third roof stone are stacked square dew bowls, but the finial above the overturned bowls was missing. The square dew bowls have a central hole for an iron mast. This pagoda is Daegu Tangible Culural Property No. 17.
[edit] Stone Lantern of Buinsa
West Pagoda and Stone Lantern of Buinsa.
The present stone lantern has been put together from separate parts that lay scattered around the precincts of Buinsa until 1964, when the twin pagodas were restored. Only the chamber where the lamp is to be placed was brought from a nearby mountain in Taejeong-dong. The stone lantern is symbolically situated in front of the stone pagoda to spread the light of Buddhism among the people. This granite lantern follows the basic model of stone lanterns during the Silla Kingdom (57 BC-AD 935), with a foundation, three layers of base stones (lower, middle, and upper), a light chamber, and a roof cover. The square foundation stone is designed with eight lotus petals on decorative panels carved on three. The middle base stone is octagonal in shape and 112 centimeters in height. Serving as a base of the octagonal chamber, the upper base stone has eight smooth sides above, but is decorated with eight lotus petals on the lower part. The lamp chamber has 4 openings on each side, appropriate for the place where the light should be placed. The capstone, which is shaped like a conical bamboo rain-hat with eight sides, is supported by three layers of stone and has lotus flower patterns engraved around its top where the finial is placed. This stone lantern is notably eye-catching for its balanced beauty and deeply overhanging eaves that elegantly curve upwards. The stone lantern is designated as Daegu Tangible Cultural Property No.16.
[edit] Stone Lantern of Ilmyeong-am
Stone lantern of Ilmyeong-am.
There is a site of a small hermitage, called Ilmyeong-am, about 200 meters southeast of Buinsa. The present stone lantern has been put together from separate parts that lay scattered around the precincts of the hermitage. All the parts are original except for the lamp chamber section, which was modeled on the broken parts excavated from a field near the hermitage site. Like the stone lantern at Buinsa, this lantern follows a similar construction and design pattern, however, there are some uniquely different features. The octagonal light chamber has only three openings, not four. Two on the wider sides and only one on the narrower side. This is a unique feature, which cannot be seen in any other lanterns of this type. Taking these characteristics into consideration, it seems that this stone lantern does not belong to the Silla Period, but in the early Goryeo Period. This lantern is designated as Daegu Cultural Property Material No.22.
[edit] Memorial Service for Queen Seondeok
Every March on the lunar calendar, a memorial service is held for Queen Seondeok and attracts many Koreans to the temple.
[edit] Gallery
[edit] Directions
There is no bus that goes to Buinsa, so it can only be reached by car or walking. The temple is located along the road between Donghwasa and Pagyesa. If you take Geubhaeng Bus 1 to the last Donghwasa stop and start walking west along the road and past Palgongsan Inter-Burgo Hotel for about 20 minutes, you'll eventually see the temple entrance on your right.
[edit] External Links
