page_title: Guinsa
section_title: Structures
hierarchical_section_title: Guinsa / Structures
caption_attribution_description: Great Teacher Hall (Daejosajeon). A shrine erected in the memory of Sangwol Wongak, a large statue of whom can be found inside. Guinsa, located near Danyang South Korea, has architecture following that of many other Buddhist temples in Korea, but is also markedly different in that the structures are several stories tall, instead of the typical one or two stories that structures found in many other Korean temples.
context_page_description: Guinsa, in the Yeonhwa area of the Sobaek Mountains located near Danyang in Chungcheongbuk-do, South Korea, is the headquarters of the Cheontae school of Korean Buddhism. Guinsa is the administrative center of over 140 sub-temples and hermitages of the Cheontae sect.
  Although the architecture of Guinsa follows that of many other Buddhist temples in Korea, it is also markedly different in that the structures are several stories tall, instead of the typical one or two stories that structures in many other Korean temples have. This may be due to the restraints of the valley in which it is located and to modern construction techniques, but it creates a visual experience that is both beautiful and unique from what one sees at other temples.
  Up to 10,000 monks can live here at any one point while the kitchen can serve food for twice that number when needed. The temple maintains and operates a large farm system covering over 60,000 pyeong/0.198 km²/0.0765 sq MI and provides much of the food prepared and consumed at the temple. As with many Korean temples, free simple vegetarian meals are served for all visitors in Guinsa at setting time, no matter your race or religion.
context_section_description: Notable structures include:
  The Great Teacher Hall (대조사전 Daejosajeon), a shrine erected in the memory of Sangwol Wongak, a large statue of whom can be found inside.
  The Four Heavenly Kings Gate (사천왕문 Sacheonwangmun) is a two story stone structure, containing statues of the Four Heavenly Kings, marking the start of the temple complex.
  The 5-Story Dharma Law Hall (5층대법당 Ocheung Daebeoptang), also referred to as the 5-story Grand  Dharma  Hall, completed in 1980 is reputedly one of the largest temple buildings in Korea, and like so many of the other buildings on the temple complex, is elaborate in both terms of painting and structural design.  The first and second floors contain meditation halls for the monks.  The third and fourth floors have shrine rooms for devotees wishing to offer prayer.  The fifth floor contains the huge Dharma Hall housing a large gilded altar of the main Buddha Shakyamuni, Supreme Budda of the present,  flanked by his attendants.  On the left sits Avalokitesvara, Bodhisattva of Compassion, and on the right sits Mahasthamaprapta, Bodhisattva of wisdom.  A unique Thangka behind the Buddhas is a painted raised wood carving.
  The Cafeteria Hall (향적당 Hyangjeokdang) contains the huge kitchen and large temple cafetria.
  The Three Story Stone Pagoda (Samcheung Seoktap), located in front of the main sanctuary is a reliquary housing the sarira of the Buddha brought back from the monastery of the Jetavana in India.  Three elephants support the base of the pagoda and these strong, intelligent animals symbolize the Buddha's Dharma.
caption: Daejosajeon (대조사전) or Great Teacher Hall near the top of the valley.
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