| Bingsan-saji Ruins of the Cold Mountain Temple site associated with Go-un Choi Chi-won in the Bingsan Gyegok Valley Park |
The Uiseong Bingsan Temple-Site Five-story Stone Pagoda, designated by the national cultural
heritage authorities as Treasure #327, is all that really remains of this small, obscure Buddhist
temple where the great sage Go-un Choi Chi-won is believed to have lived for one or more
summers in the early 900s. It is 8.15 meters tall, and probably built in the 800s. It has a very
unusual opening in its lowest storey, for storing some sacred scriptures or objects -- a metal door
may have closed it. A bronze sarira-case gilded with gold was found in its 3rd story when it was
dismantled and refurbished in the 1990s -- that treasure is now in the National Museum collection.
heritage authorities as Treasure #327, is all that really remains of this small, obscure Buddhist
temple where the great sage Go-un Choi Chi-won is believed to have lived for one or more
summers in the early 900s. It is 8.15 meters tall, and probably built in the 800s. It has a very
unusual opening in its lowest storey, for storing some sacred scriptures or objects -- a metal door
may have closed it. A bronze sarira-case gilded with gold was found in its 3rd story when it was
dismantled and refurbished in the 1990s -- that treasure is now in the National Museum collection.
| Just north of the pagoda, a simple wooden pavilion now offers rest to tourists upon the old stone foundations of the main hall of Bingsan-sa -- whose buildings were ordered to be destroyed by infamous Joseon King Taejong in 1406, as part of his nationwide suppression of Buddhism; they never were rebuilt. |
| Just behind-right of the main-hall foundation-ruins are a few more punghyeol mini-caves with cool air flowing out of them. |
