Woljong Temple

Woljong temple is situated in Woljong-ri, Anak County, South Hwanghae Province. It was built first by Saint Woljong in 846, and later repaired several times. The present buildings of the temple were those rebuilt during the period of the feudal Joson dynasty (1392-1910). It consists of Manse Pavilion, Myongbu Hall, Suwol Hall and other annexes with Kungnakbo Hall as the centre. And with its central axis lying from south to north linking Kungnakbo Hall and Manse Pavilion there are Myongbu Hall in the east and Suwol Hall in the west.

Kungnakbo Hall is a double-eaved gabled house with a curved roof. Its pillars are potbellied. What characterizes the architecture of the hall is that it has unique bracket decorations which cannot be found in other buildings. Generally, bracket decoration in the Korean architecture is done the way the interior of a bracket has the same number of cow's tongue patterns with the exterior's or larger than the latter's. But the brackets of the hall each has five similar patterns in the interior and seven in the exterior. And the structure and form of brackets in the front, side, rear and interior of the hall are clear and simple, thus being free from useless complexity and leaning only on style. The eaves protrude 2.5 metres long and the angle rafters are supported by props. Inside, the ceiling is set as low as the height of the beams so as to make one feel at ease.

As a gabled house, Manse Pavilion is five bays (11. 72 metres) in facade and two bays (6.02 metres) in side. Built on a slope, it is a loft-like building with its floor supported by stone pillars (1.2m high) in front. The front and each side of the building are walled with wooden boards while the rear is opened.

The temple is now well preserved as a historical cultural relic which shows the Korean people’s excellent architecture and talents.