<Into the World Cultural Heritage…> 1. Bongjeongsa Temple

You may have heard of Andong Bongjeongsa Temple at least once. It is one of the seven temples listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and in particular, its Daeungjeon Hall is said to be the best wooden structure in Korea. Usually, when you say ‘Daeungjeon Hall,’ you think of grand and splendid temples, but this place seems to be very simple and elegant, yet somehow exudes the elegance of our ancestors. Bongjeongsa Temple was built during the Unified Silla period, and Geungnakjeon Hall is influenced by the Unified Silla style, so it is particularly different from other temples. Is it because it was built so that you can appreciate the wooden building itself? It is like the temple is embracing the natural appearance of a tree, minus the splendidness of Dancheong. Since when have we become accustomed to splendidness, and since when have we become so abundant that we have left behind everything, discarded it, and destroyed it again, and buildings so tall that they cannot be seen from the sky stretch toward the sky, and talk about the airspace because the ground (land) alone is not enough? Looking around Bongjeongsa Temple, it was a short but long time as if I was traveling to the other world where I live and a past trip called ‘Bongjeongsa Temple’. #WorldCulturalHeritage #AndongBongjeongsa