history

The Kwangbop Temple, an old historical site, stands at the foot of Mt Taesong in Pyongyang.

It is a Buddhist temple which was built in the period of the Koguryo Kingdom (277 BC-AD 668), the first feudal state of Korea.

It consists of Haethal and Chonwang gates, Taeung Hall, east and west Buddhist monasteries and an octagonal five-storey pagoda. Each building is distributed symmetrically along the central axis of the pagoda.

The Taeung Hall, the main building of the temple, is a two-storey structure with gable roofs.

It has three partitions at the facade and another three at the side on the stylobate built with well-trimmed stones, and in the hall there are three Buddhist statues and a Buddhist painting.

In the Haethal Gate, there are sculptures representing Buddhist saints on an elephant and lion. In the Chonwang Gate, there are sculptures of Four Devas guarding the East, West, North and South.

There are a lotus pond which has been existing since ancient times, the monument to the temple which was built in 1727 and the monument to the extension of tanchong (colourful painting) at the Kwangbop Temple which was erected later.

The temple, a precious cultural heritage element showcasing the architecture of the Korean people at that time, is now under good protection as a relic of national treasure value.