- Source: Simwonsa (Pakchon)
The Simwonsa (Pakchon) (심원사 深源寺) is an historic Korean Buddhist temple located in Sangyang-ri, Pakchon County, North Pyongan Province, North Korea. It is listed as the 54th National Treasure of North Korea.
The temple was built in the ninth century and rebuilt in 1368. It features examples of painting and wood processing techniques used by craftsmen of the era.
A carving on the temple says it was built by Hyon Uk (786-868). The temple site has three buildings, Pogwang Shrine (the main building), the Chongphung and the Hyangro Pavilions. The Pogwang site is described as a "colorfully painted building ... decorated with dragon, phoenix and other sculptures". On the wall of the Chongphung Pavilion is a wooden fish 2.5 meters long, weighing 100 kilograms.
References
Korean Buddhist Jogye Order Headquarters, ed. (2011). 북한의 전통사찰 A B 세트 [North Korean traditional temples]. 養士齋. ISBN 9788996665908.. 10 volumes, 2800 pages. What is said about Simwonsa can be accessed through this Naver link (심원사 深源寺).
"Simwon Temple". KCNA. Pyongyang. 29 October 2011. Retrieved 25 May 2015.
"Simwon Temple, Korean Nation's Cultural Heritage". KCNA. Pyongyang. 15 February 2015. Retrieved 25 May 2015.