Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All South Korea Songnisan Palsangjeon

Palsangjeon

The only wooden pagoda remaining in South Korea is part of a Buddhist temple that was established in the year 553.

Songnisan, South Korea

Added By
katielou106
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
Palsangjeon   Steve46814 / CC BY-SA 3.0
Palsangjeon, the Wooden Pagoda of Beopjusa   katielou106 / Atlas Obscura User
The eaves of Palsangjeon   katielou106 / Atlas Obscura User
Palsangjeon and the Golden Maitreya Statute of National Unification   katielou106 / Atlas Obscura User
Palsangjeon   Steve46814 / CC BY-SA 3.0
  parhessiastes / CC BY-SA 2.0
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Initially built in 553, this wooden pagoda is thought to be both the oldest and tallest building of its kind in Korea. It is also the only pagoda in Korea that has kept its original appearance. Its name is Palsangjeon, which means "Hall of Eight Pictures," and it is one of the buildings in Beopjusa, a Buddhist temple complex located within South Korea's Songnisan National Park.

The hall gets its name from the Palsang, a series of eight murals depicting the life of Sakyamuni, the founder of Buddhism. These murals depict the distinct phases in the Buddha's life, from birth into adulthood and then achieving enlightenment and entering Nirvana. In addition to the painted panels, there are four statues of the Sakyamuni Buddha, a sarira containing relics of the Buddha or another holy person, a shrine for the Buddha, and an area for meditation inside Palsangjeon.  

Palsangjeon stands over 22 meters (74 feet) tall and sits atop a stone platform with central steps and entrance doors in each of the four cardinal directions. Many of the historical records have been lost to time, but two inscriptions found on a sarira casket and a part of the roof indicate that Beopjusa's Palsangjeon was built in 553. However, like many other wooden buildings, it was destroyed by the Japanese during the Seven Year War, with rebuilding taking place in 1605.  

Due to its unique design and historical significance, Palsangjeon was designated National Treasure of Korea #55 on December 20, 1962.

Related Tags

National Parks Buddhism Sacred Spaces Architecture Pagodas Temples

Know Before You Go

Two further National Treasures of Korea can be found at this site: Beopjusa Seogyeonji (National Treasure #64) and Ssangsajaseokdeung (National Treasure #5). Beopjusa is also home to a number of tangible cultural heritage items and other miscellaneous treasures.

To get to Beopjusa get off at Daejeon KTX station and go to Daejeon Terminal Complex.  Then take an intercity bus for Songnisan.

Community Contributors

Added By

katielou106

Edited By

Michelle Cassidy

  • Michelle Cassidy

Published

October 5, 2021

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://koreantempleguide.com/palsang-do-the-eight-scenes-from-the-life-of-the-buddha-murals-%ED%8C%94%EC%83%81%EB%8F%84/
Palsangjeon
209 Sanae-ri
Songnisan, 376-860
South Korea
36.541944, 127.833056
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Dorisa Temple

Gumi, South Korea

miles away

Andong Hahoe Folk Village

Andong, South Korea

miles away

Seoksu from the Tomb of King Muryeong

Gongju, South Korea

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of South Korea

South Korea

Asia

Places 107
Stories 14

Nearby Places

Dorisa Temple

Gumi, South Korea

miles away

Andong Hahoe Folk Village

Andong, South Korea

miles away

Seoksu from the Tomb of King Muryeong

Gongju, South Korea

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of South Korea

South Korea

Asia

Places 107
Stories 14

Related Places

  • Approaching the interior of the Longhua Temple complex

    Shanghai, China

    Longhua Temple

    A temple complex has existed on this site since the third century.

  • Temple des Mille Bouddhas

    La Boulaye, France

    Temple des Mille Bouddhas (Temple of One Thousand Buddhas)

    On the grounds of a former estate in Burgundy stands an elaborate temple that is modeled after the first Tibetan Buddhist monastery.

  • Wongaksa pagoda is encased in a protective glass structure in Tapgol Park.

    Seoul, South Korea

    Wongaksa Pagoda

    This pagoda was once the central feature of a Buddhist temple that no longer exists.

  • Horyuji Temple

    Ikaruga, Japan

    Hōryū-ji

    Home to the world's oldest wooden building.

  • Shuangta, Twin Pagodas seen from the relic site

    Suzhou, China

    Luohanyuan Shuangta (Twin Pagodas)

    Two nearly identical Chinese pagodas stand side by side, along with ancient stone relics.

  • Side view

    Bensalem, Pennsylvania

    Wat Mongkoltepmunee

    A glittering Thai Buddhist temple in suburban Pennsylvania.

  • Unawatuna Peace Pagoda

    Unawatuna, Sri Lanka

    Unawatuna Peace Pagoda

    This peaceful, round shrine in the middle of the Sri Lankan jungle acts as a beacon of peace.

  • Kyaiktiyo pagoda, Golden Rock.

    Thaton District, Myanmar (Burma)

    Kyaiktiyo Pagoda

    A precariously perched golden rock defies gravity and brings pilgrims from across Myanmar.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.