Haeinsa, Buddhist temple in Gaya-myeon, South Korea.
Haeinsa is a Buddhist temple in Gaya-myeon, Hapcheon County, South Gyeongsang Province, spread across the slopes of Mount Gaya. The traditional Korean wooden buildings are linked by stone pathways and staircases that pass through several courtyards.
Monks named Suneung and Ijeong founded the site in 802 during the Silla period. In medieval times, it became an important center for Buddhist studies and meditation in Korea.
The complex houses over 80,000 woodblocks carved with Buddhist scriptures, stored in two specialized buildings renowned for their natural ventilation. Visitors can view the exterior of these structures and walk through the courtyard, which invites quiet contemplation.
The site opens daily from sunrise to sunset, and a roughly 30-minute walk leads from the parking area to the main buildings. The paths are mostly uphill and accessed via stone steps, so sturdy footwear is advisable.
The storage halls for the woodblocks date from the 15th century and use different window sizes on the front and rear walls to regulate air circulation. This system keeps temperature and humidity stable without modern technology and has protected the blocks for centuries.
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