백률사 대웅전

백률사 대웅전 Daeungjeon Hall of Baengnyulsa Temple
백률사 대웅전, 국가문화유산포털, 문화재청.
대표명칭	백률사 대웅전
영문명칭	Daeungjeon Hall of Baengnyulsa Temple
한자	栢栗寺 大雄殿
주소	경상북도 경주시 산업로 4214-110 (동천동)
지정(등록) 종목	경상북도 문화재자료 제4호
지정(등록)일	1985년 8월 5일
분류	유적건조물/종교신앙/불교/불전
수량/면적	1동
웹사이트	백률사 대웅전, 국가문화유산포털, 문화재청.

해설문

국문

백률사는 『삼국유사』에 나오는 자추사(刺楸寺)로 추정된다. 신라 법흥왕 14년(527) 이차돈(異次頓)이 순교할 때 그의 목에서 흰 피가 1장이나 솟구치고, 하늘에서 꽃비가 내렸다. 이때 그의 머리가 날아가 경주 금강산 정상에 떨어졌으므로, 그곳에 장사지내고 좋은 땅을 택해 자추사라는 절을 지었다고 한다.

대웅전은 임진왜란으로 피해를 입어 선조 때 다시 지어졌다고 전해지지만, 조선후기의 건축 양식을 보이고 있다. 정면 3칸, 측면 3칸 규모의 맞배지붕으로 구성하였다. 대웅전 서쪽에 봉서루(鳳棲樓)라는 누각이 있었으나 지금은 없어졌고, 대웅전 앞 바위면에 마애삼층탑이 새겨져 있다.

대웅전에 모셨던 금동약사여래입상(국보 제28호)은 불국사의 금동비로자나불좌상(국보 제26호), 금동아미타여래좌상(국보 제27호)과 함께 통일신라시대 3대 금동불 중 하나로 꼽히는 뛰어난 작품으로 현재 국립 경주박물관에 보관, 전시되어 있다.

영문

Daeungjeon Hall of Baengnyulsa Temple

Daeungjeon typically refers to a Buddhist worship hall for the veneration of Sakyamuni, the historical Buddha. However, Daeungjeon Hall of Baengnyulsa Temple currently enshrines a Buddhist triad with Amitabha, the Buddha of the Western Paradise, as the principal buddha.

This worship hall is presumed to have been first built upon the establishment of Baengnyulsa Temple in the 6th century during the Silla period (57 BCE-935 CE). It was destroyed during the Japanese invasions of 1592-1598 and is said to have been rebuilt by 1608. The building has a tiled gable roof that is supported by many intricate brackets. Part of the building’s stone foundation shows characteristics of the Silla period.

A statue (National Treasure No. 28) of Bhaisajyaguru (the Medicine Buddha) that had long been enshrined as the principal buddha of this worship hall is now kept at the Gyeongju National Museum. It is considered one of three masterpieces of Buddhist gilt-bronze sculpture of the Unified Silla period (668-935).

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• The building to the left of the worship hall is the monks' living quarters. There is also a bell pavilion and a shrine dedicated folk deities such as the spirits of the Big Dipper, the Mountain Spirit. On the rock face in front of the building is a carving of a three-story pagoda.

• This worship hall once enshrined a 1.77 m-tall gilt-bronze standing statue of Bhaisajyaguru, the Medicine Buddha, who is believed to possess the power to heal illness and physical defects. The statue was relocated to the Gyeongju National Museum around 1930 during the Japanese colonial period (1910-1945). It is considered one of three masterpieces of Buddhist gilt-bronze sculpture of the Unified Silla period (668-935), together with the seated gilt-bronze statues of Vairocana and Amitabha from Bulguksa Temple. Today, a Buddhist triad, composed of Amitabha Buddha in the center flanked by the bodhisattvas Avalokitesvara and Mahasthamaprapta, is enshrined in the worship hall. Behind the altar are statues of 16 arhats, the perfected disciples of the Buddha. On the left and right walls of the hall are paintings of Avalokitesvara and Ksitigarbha Bodhisattvas. On the left wall of the worship hall is a portrait of the monk Ichadon, for whom this temple is said to have been founded.

• Baengnyulsa Temple is presumed to be the temple Jachusa that is mentioned in the Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms (Samguk yusa). According to this historical record, the temple was founded to honor Ichadon (501-527), a Buddhist monk who sacrificed his life to make Buddhism the state religion of the Silla kingdom. King Beopheung (r. 514-540) wanted to make Buddhism the state religion, but was facing opposition from his court officials. Ichadon suggested that the king use the royal seal to proclaim Buddhism as the state religion. When this action was met with outrage, Ichadon would confess that he had forged the document and be sentenced to death. He believed that upon his death, a miracle would happen which would convince the officials of the power of Buddhism. When he was beheaded, it is said that the ground shook, the sky became dark, beautiful flowers fell from the sky, his severed head flew in the air from the palace to Geumgansan Mountain, and white instead of red blood sprayed high into the air from his corpse. This convinced the officials of the power of Buddhism. Ichadon's funeral was held where his head had landed at Geumgangsan Mountain, and this temple was established on that spot. The name Jachusa means "Temple of the Pierced Walnut Tree." It is unknown when the temple became known as Baeknyulsa, meaning "Temple of the Cypress Chestnut."

• In 1914, a stele honoring Ichadon erected in 817 was found in the vicinity of this temple and moved to the Gyeongju National Museum, but its exact original location was lost. In 2019, the remains of the stele pedestal and other stone structures were found about 100 m from the temple, which is presumed to be the site of Ichadon's tomb and shrine.

• Each year on the 5th day of the 8th lunar month, a ritual commemorating Monk Ichadon is held at this temple.