Songbul Temple is situated in Jongbangsan Fortress, Sariwon City, North Hwanghae Province. It was first built in 898 and went through several times of repair and renovation.

  As a head temple with other temples in the province under its jurisdiction, it was composed of more than 20 buildings but now there remain 6 buildings such as Ungjin Hall, Kuknak Hall, Myongbu Hall, Chongphung Pavilion, Unha House and Sansin Shrine, as well as a 5-storeyed stone pagoda.

  Ungjin Hall renovated in 1327, is a dignified and beautiful wooden edifice of 7 bays (22.75m) in front and 3 bays (6.7m) in side. It has a gable roof and decorated with 3 Pho-style brackets on entasis columns.

  It is one of the oldest wooden buildings in Korea together with Pogwang Hall of Simwon Temple in Yonthan, Pogwang Hall of Simwon Temple in Pakchon and Muryangsu Hall of Pusok Temple in Yongju.

  Kuknak Hall was rebuilt in 1376 in the period of Koryo Dynasty. It was destroyed during the Fatherland Liberation War and restored to its original state after the war. It is a gabled house of 3 bays (12m) in front and 2 bays (6.3m) in side with 3 Ikgong-style brackets and double eaves. Ungjin Hall characteristic of the Pho brackets and Kuknak Hall of the Ikgong brackets are precious assets that vividly represent the architecture of the late Koryo Dynasty.

  Myongbu Hall is a gabled house of 3 bays (8.25m) in front and 3 bays (7.05m) in side with 2 Ikgong-style brackets and double eaves.

  Chongphung Pavilion which goes well with its environmental setting is also of a gabled roof of 5 bays (15.74m) in front and 2 bays (7.57m) in side with 2 Ikgong-style brackets.

  Unha House to the right of Kuknak Hall is a dormitory composed of several rooms for monks’ living.

  Today, Songbul Temple is well preserved thanks to the State’s policy for cultural heritage conservation.