Baengnyulsa Temple

Set partway up Mt. Sogeumgang north of Gyeongju, Baengnyulsa Temple honors Yi Cha-don, who was martyred in 527, the 14th year of King Beopheung's reign, in the cause of officially recognizing Buddhism — and stands as a sacred site of Silla Buddhism.

According to the Samguk Yusa and the Hyangjeon, written during King Heondeok's reign, Yi Cha-don was martyred while carrying out King Beopheung's order to officially recognize Buddhism and build temples. When he was beheaded, it's said that white blood spurted forth and flowers rained down — a sight so strange that even officials who had opposed recognizing Buddhism changed their minds. His wife is said to have built Jachusa Temple at the spot where his severed head landed, to pray for his soul; Baengnyulsa is believed to be that very temple.

The temple's buildings burned down during the Japanese invasions of the 1590s and were later rebuilt, though the foundation retains some elements of Silla-era style. The gilt-bronze standing Medicine Buddha once enshrined in the main hall was made around the same time as Bulguksa's gilt-bronze seated Amitabha Buddha and seated Vairocana Buddha; together, these three are known as Unified Silla's three great gilt-bronze Buddhas. Today the statue and Yi Cha-don's stone pillar are held by the Gyeongju National Museum.