Naesosa, Buddhist temple at the base of Naebyeongsan Mountain, South Korea
Naesosa is a Buddhist temple at the foot of Naebyeongsan Mountain in Jeollabuk-do, South Korea. Its wooden buildings were assembled without iron nails and decorated with traditional Buddhist paintings.
The temple was founded in 633 during the Baekje Kingdom by the monk Hyegu-duta. It fell into disrepair over the centuries and was largely rebuilt in 1633, giving it the form visitors see today.
The temple holds four state-designated heritage items including a bronze bell from the Goryeo period and religious manuscripts. Visitors encounter these treasures within their original setting, where they remain part of the ongoing spiritual practice at this place.
A forest path lined with fir trees leads from the Iljumun Gate to the Cheonwangmun Gate at the temple entrance. The path is flat and easy to walk, so it suits visitors of all ages.
A craftsman is said to have spent three years carving the wooden panels of the Main Buddha Hall, yet one panel has never been found. Local accounts offer no explanation for where it went.
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