Baengnyulsa (Gyeongju)

Baengnyulsa Temple, located on the mid-slope of Mt. Sogumgang to the north of Gyeongju City, is a temple built to commemorate Ichadon, who was martyred for the official recognition of Buddhism in the 14th year of King Beopheung of Silla (527), and is a Buddhist holy site of Silla. According to the Samguk Yusa and the Hyangjeon, written during the reign of King Heondeok, Ichadon, following King Beopheung's command, was martyred for the official recognition of Buddhism and the construction of temples. When he was beheaded, strange phenomena occurred, such as white blood spurting from his neck and a rain of flowers falling. It is said that even the ministers who opposed the official recognition of Buddhism changed their minds upon witnessing this, and that Ichadon's wife built Jachusa Temple at the spot where Ichadon's severed head flew and landed, to pray for his soul. Baengnyulsa Temple is presumed to be the Jachusa mentioned in this record. The buildings of Baengnyulsa Temple were burned down during the Japanese invasions of Korea (Imjin War) and rebuilt later, with the stylobate retaining some Silla-era architectural styles. The gilt-bronze standing statue of Bhaisajyaguru Buddha, which was enshrined in the Daeungjeon (main hall) in the past, was created around the same time as the gilt-bronze seated statue of Amitabha Buddha and the gilt-bronze seated statue of Vairocana Buddha at Bulguksa Temple, and these three Buddhist statues are known as the three great gilt-bronze Buddhas of the Unified Silla period. The gilt-bronze standing statue of Bhaisajyaguru Buddha and Ichadon's stone stupa are housed at the Gyeongju National Museum.