2 May 2024 The Future is the Product of the Past

South Korea, Mireuksa Temple ve The World Heritage Festival for “Baekje Historic Areas,”

Baekje (18 B.C. to A.D. 660) is one of Korea’s Three Kingdoms Period’s lesser-known eras (57 B.C. to A.D. 668).

The “Baekje Historic Areas” are made up of eight archaeological sites. These sites are distributed over three cities in South Chungcheong and North Jeolla: Gongju, Buyeo, and Iksan.

The eight sites include Gongsanseong and Songsan-ri King Tombs related to Baekje’s capital city of Ungjin (now Gongju); Guanbuk-ri Administrative Building, Fusu Mountain Fortress, Jeongrimsa Temple, and Neungsanri Kings related to the relocated capital of Saba (now Buyeo) The royal tombs, etc.; finally, the royal palace in the royal palace and Iksan Mireuksa Temple, which are related to the later period of Sabi.

The archaeological sites and buildings of the Baekje historical site show the exchanges between the development of architectural technology and the spread of Buddhism in the ancient East Asian kingdoms of North Korea, China, and Japan. The capitals, Buddhist temples, mausoleums, architectural features, stone towers, etc. of the Baekje historical area have all contributed to the unique testimony of the unique culture, religion, and art of the Baekje Kingdom.

Mireuksa Temple

The Mireuksa Temple is located in Giyang-ri, Iksan-gun. According to Samguk yusa (Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms), King Mu of the Baekje Dynasty and his queen witnessed the Maitreya Buddha Triad emerge at the pond down Yonghwasan Mountain on their route to Sajasa Temple. Later, at the queen’s request, King Mu had the pond reclaimed and pagodas, halls for the image of Buddha, and an ambulatory built. Mireuksa Temple was established during the time of King Mu and closed during the Joseon Dynasty, according to the record.

Stone Pagoda at Mireuksa Temple Site, Iksan
Stone Pagoda at Mireuksa Temple Site, Iksan

The temple features two stone pagodas, Dongtap (east pagoda) and Seotop (west pagoda), as well as one wooden pagoda in the middle and many rooms for the Buddha image behind the pagodas. The layout of the buildings of the temple is very unique, with the ambulatory dividing the buildings.

There are 5 main rooms and 4 side chambers in each of the Buddha image halls. The space beneath the room appears to have been built to protect the hardwood floor from dampness. Some temple structures that were fitted with Ondol (floor heating system) are significant in understanding the evolution of Ondol throughout the Goryeo and Joseon periods.

Roof tiles, earthen containers, metals, and timber items were among the temple’s unearthed remnants, some of which had writings inscribed on them. As the oldest stone pagoda, Seotap (west pagoda) has been recognized as National Treasure No. 11.

Stone Pagoda at Mireuksa Temple Site, Iksan
Stone Pagoda at Mireuksa Temple Site, Iksan. Photo: Gaz. Wiki

A miniature of the restored  Mireuksa Temple may be seen in the pavilion. Mireuksa is a sort of guardian temple established with the purpose of preserving the state with the spirit of Buddha and was regarded highly significant until the end of the Baekje Dynasty, which has enormous historical significance.

The World Heritage Festival for “Baekje Historic Areas,”

If you want to see this wonderful temple and attend a special festival, August month is a great opportunity for that. Moreover, they also thought of those who could not attend due to covid 19.

Baekje Historic Areas in Gongju, South Chungcheong Province / Photo: Cultural Heritage Administration
Baekje Historic Areas in Gongju, South Chungcheong Province / Photo: Cultural Heritage Administration

The World Heritage Festival for “Baekje Historic Areas,” which began on August 13 and will end on August 31, will feature 22 online and offline activities. On Aug. 13, the three cities had their opening ceremonies, which were also aired live online.

During the event, there will also be a 40-minute night tour of Gongsanseong. During the festival, the program runs from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. daily, stopping at several pavilions within the castle. Because the program can only accommodate 40 participants each day, reservations are required.

Mireu Island inside Geumgangsingwan Park, On Aug. 28, gugak (traditional Korean music) ensemble Yeonjeong will perform. The performance begins at 8 p.m. and will also be streamed live. 

Source: Cultural Heritage Administration

Related Articles

Al-Ula, The Living Museum of Ancient Arab Civilizations

12 February 2021

12 February 2021

Al-Ula oasis is located in the lush Wadi Al-Qura, or “valley of villages”, about 110 km southwest of the modern...

The 11-meter giant statue of the island of Naxos “Dionysus of Apollonas”

22 March 2023

22 March 2023

One of the two ancient marble quarries, thought to have begun the sculpture, the greatest art of antiquity, is located...

The best-preserved Roman ruins outside of Italy can be seen in Jerash the ancient city of Jordan’s

2 December 2021

2 December 2021

Jerash is a magnificent old Roman city located around 50 kilometers from Amman, Jordan. Jerash is considered the most well-preserved...

Istanbul’s Iron Church of Unique Beauty

1 November 2021

1 November 2021

The Bulgarian Church of St. Stephens was constructed like a cross-shaped Basilica. St. Stephen Church is also known as The...

Portugal’s Enigmatic Roman Building “Tower of Centum Cellas”

4 February 2024

4 February 2024

The Tower of Centum Cellas (also known as the “Tower of St. Cornelius”), located in the Mount of Santo Antão...

Reconstruction of Ancient iconic buildings Using Architectural GIFs

14 January 2022

14 January 2022

Today, tourists’ perceptions of the world’s great architectural wonders are firmly focused on their current state of ruin, leaving the...

Georgia’s Holy City Mtskheta

13 March 2022

13 March 2022

Georgia’s ancient capital city, Mtskheta, is located 20 kilometers (12 miles) north of Tbilisi at the confluence of two mountainous...

The Most Unusual Places İn The World

10 February 2021

10 February 2021

There are countless beautiful places in the world. All of them are interesting and great than each other. We have...

Rose Red City “Ancient City of Petra”

12 February 2021

12 February 2021

Petra is one of the most interesting ancient cities in the world.This beautiful city, one of the 7 wonders of...

The Newgrange of Ireland older than the Egyptian pyramids and Stonehenge

3 June 2021

3 June 2021

Newgrange is a 5,200-year-old ancient tomb located in the Boyne Valley in Ireland’s Ancient East. Archaeologists have classified Newgrange as...

Life continues in Iran’s 12,000-year-old settlement “Meymand village”

8 February 2022

8 February 2022

At the south-eastern Iranian province of Kerman near Shahr-Babak city, there is a village dating back to the Stone Age....

Falaj al Misfah: Working for a thousand years

26 September 2021

26 September 2021

The village of Al Misfah Abriyeen is known for its lush oasis, magnificent orchards, and year-round water source, the ‘aflaj.’...

Discovering the rare works of Sanliurfa Archaeology Museum

13 October 2021

13 October 2021

The Sanlıurfa Archaeology Museum building involves many main attributes, such as the largest enclosed space and exhibition hall museum in...

Egypt’s Lost city “Thonis-Heracleion”

6 September 2021

6 September 2021

Thonis-Heracleion (Egyptian and Greek names of the city) is a port city lost between myth and reality until 1999. Few...

Turkey’s Must-See Ancient Cities

23 March 2021

23 March 2021

From the classical cities scattered on the coast to the earliest archaeological sites that can be traced back to human...