Myeongbujeon, Gwaneumjeon, Sansingak — Korean Temple Halls
Myeongbujeon (Hall of the Afterlife) enshrines Jijang Bosal (Ksitigarbha), Gwaneumjeon (Avalokiteshvara Hall) enshrines Gwanseeum Bosal (Avalokiteshvara), and Sansingak (Mountain Spirit Shrine) honors the mountain spirit; Korean mountain temples often have small halls like these around the main Dharma hall. Goyosa in Hapjang (합장), the browser-based online temple, has all three as buildings with name boards. There is nothing to do inside them; they are places to look at as you walk by.
- Where
- Goyosa temple grounds (after the Main Buddha Hall in the guide order)
- What's there
- The buildings and name boards of Myeongbujeon, Gwaneumjeon and Sansingak
- What you can do
- Look around (no activities inside the halls)
- Nearby activities
- Cushions, candles and Indeung lamps in the Main Buddha Hall; the courtyard incense burner
What is Myeongbujeon?
Myeongbujeon is a hall that enshrines Jijang Bosal (Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva) and the Ten Kings of the underworld (Siwang), and it is commonly known as a place to pray for the peace of those who have died. Ksitigarbha is said to have vowed to put off his own Buddhahood until every being caught in suffering is freed. Some temples call this hall Jijangjeon.
What is Gwaneumjeon?
Gwaneumjeon is the hall of Gwanseeum Bosal (Avalokiteshvara), the bodhisattva of compassion who is said to hear and attend to the cries of the world. Some temples call it Wontongjeon. At Goyosa you can also meet Avalokiteshvara in the Seaside Guanyin statue on the Guanyin Seaside Path by the sea.
What is Sansingak?
Sansingak is a small shrine to the sansin, the spirit of the mountain where the temple stands. The mountain spirit is commonly painted as an old man seated with a tiger. It is often explained as Buddhism in Korea embracing the much older faith in mountains as it took root, which is why many mountain temples place a Sansingak behind the Dharma hall or on higher ground.
The three halls at Goyosa
At Goyosa, Myeongbujeon, Gwaneumjeon and Sansingak are buildings with name boards only. There is no going inside to sit or make offerings, so just walk past slowly and take in the roofs and name boards. The name boards appear in your chosen screen language. If you are looking for things to do in a Dharma hall, head to the Main Buddha Hall; if you are curious about the monks' daily life, visit the monks' quarters.
Try it in Hapjang
There are no activities to press at the three halls. Stop in front of a hall, and if you feel like it, make a half bow from [Greet] at the bottom of the screen. If you would like to make an offering, light a candle or an Indeung lamp in the nearby Main Buddha Hall, or offer incense at the courtyard incense burner.
Frequently asked questions
What do people do at Myeongbujeon?
Myeongbujeon enshrines Ksitigarbha and the Ten Kings, and people commonly pray there for the peace of those who have died. At Goyosa in Hapjang, Myeongbujeon has only the building and name board, with no activities.
How is Gwaneumjeon different from the Main Buddha Hall?
The Main Buddha Hall (Daeungjeon) enshrines Shakyamuni Buddha, and Gwaneumjeon enshrines Avalokiteshvara. At a temple, a hall's name changes depending on who is enshrined in it.
Why is there a mountain spirit shrine at a Buddhist temple?
It is commonly explained that as Buddhism took root in Korea, it embraced the older faith in mountain spirits. That is why many mountain temples have a small shrine to the mountain spirit.
Related pages
- Main Buddha Hall (Daeungjeon) — Sit and Bow OnlineThe Main Buddha Hall is the heart of a Korean temple. In Hapjang, sit on one of 312 cushions to breathe, bow, copy sutras and ring a singing bowl.
- Guanyin Seaside Path — Sit and Watch the Sea OnlineWalk the seaside path at Goyosa in Hapjang, an online Korean temple: pass a Seaside Guanyin statue and a small hermitage, then sit on a sea bench and rest.
- Monks' Quarters (Yosachae) — Bowl Meal and a Cup of TeaThe monks' quarters are where Korean monks eat, sleep and live. In Hapjang, try a mindful bowl meal and share a silent cup of tea with a monk on the porch.
- Korean Temple Layout: From the Gate to the Main Buddha HallHow a Korean mountain temple is laid out: the One-Pillar Gate, Heavenly Kings Gate and Gate of Non-Duality, then the main hall, as you walk it in Hapjang.
- How to Bow at a Korean Temple: Hapjang, Half & Full BowHow to join palms (hapjang), do a half bow and a full prostration at a Korean Buddhist temple, when to use each, and how to try them online.
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