The geungnakjeon () of the temple Bongjeongsa in Andong, North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea was designated National Treasure No. 15 in 1962 in recognition of its architectural and historical value. The building is considered the oldest wooden chamber in South Korea.
History It is believed that the temple Bongjeongsa was constructed around 672 under the reign of King Munmu. In 1972, the hall went through a dismantlement and repair session, which resulted in the new discovery of the document that describes its initial history. The document says the temple was built by Monk Neungin (능인대사) in the late 7th century, while its original appellation Daejangjeon(대장전, 大藏殿) was changed into the present name, Geungnakjeon. Additionally, it was also found that its roof was renovated in 1363 in the reign of Gongmin of Goryeo. (r. 1351~1374) According to the records, it is plausible to assume that the hall was constructed in the early 1200s (early or mid-Goryeo period), given the fact that it generally takes more than 100 to 150 years for a traditional wooden structure to undergo its first major renovation after the construction and thus is presumed to be the oldest wooden building remaining in Korea. It is said the hall including Bongjeonsa temple went through 6 times of repair, notably in 1625 during the reign of King Injo of the Joseon dynasty.
Structure Bongjeongsa temple is located at the steep area with paralleled composition formed at the Main Hall and Geungnakjeon Hall area. The two buildings are in the central area leading to Maiterya and Shakyamuni beliefs. The characteristic is the point that the Main Hall and Geungnakjeon Hall are formed in parallel to one another. The yard at the center of Geungnakjeon Hall along with other buildings makes a twin format.
The hall has a gabled roof supported by column brackets. It has a door in the front middle compartment and windows on both sides. The interior of the hall, in which the Buddhist statue is placed, is decorated with an ornamental canopy. Its construction style is inherited from the Unified Silla period, reflecting the distinctive architectural structure such as the techniques applied to erected columns and decorative patterns in Buddha statue.
References
Citations Kim, Dong-uk, *History of Korean Architecture*, Hollym International Corp., 2002 (pp. 78-85). Suh, Jae-sik, *World Heritage in Korea: Bongjeongsa and Goryeo Wooden Architecture*, Seoul Selection, 2018 (pp. 102-108). Lee, Kang-keun, "Structural Evolution of Goryeo Bracket Systems: Focus on Geungnakjeon at Bongjeongsa", *Journal of Asian Architecture and Building Engineering*, Vol. 4, No. 1, 2005 (pp. 115-122)