Ryangchon Temple

   Ryangchon Temple is situated in Rakchon-ri, Kowon County, South Hamgyong Province.

   It was first built in 753 and went through several times of renovation. There remains Taeung Hall, Muryangsu Hall and Manse Pavilion at present.

   Taeung Hall is a gabled house of 3 bays (11.6m) in front and 3 bays (7.35m) in side with Pho-style brackets, which are supported by hullim columns (a column whose lower part is thicker than the upper part). The platform of the hall is exquisitely laid with 1.5~2m of granites which were knapped well.

   Manse Pavilion, renovated in 1729, is of 5 bays (19.4m) in front and 3 bays (10.5m) in side. It has a gabled roof on 4 Ikgong brackets of exterior purlin type which is supported by hullim columns.

   Taeung Hall and Manse Pavilion are large in scale, and their colorful paintings are very splendid.

   In Taeung Hall, the dance and music paintings on the inclined ceiling, the paintings on the walls between brackets and the paintings on the tie beams are great works that represent high painting skills of that age.

   On the wide area of the inclined ceiling from the brackets to the king post, there are more than 20 men and women dancing and playing musical instruments around two women who hold peaches of longevity on a tray.

   These paintings as the subject of Taeung Hall, gives impression like a pleasant dancing place.

   The description of figures blowing and beating instruments like a saenap (Korean brass wind instrument), a flute, a janggo (a long Korean drum that tapers in the middle), a kayagum (Korean string instrument), a drum and a cymbal (a Korean gong) as well as their flying garments show the outstanding talents of the painter, thereby belongs to the representative paintings of the middle age.

   As a national cultural heritage of Korea that represents the high level of architectural art, Ryangchon Temple is a very important data especially in studying colorful paintings of temples.