Daejosa Temple (Buyeo)

Daejosa Temple (Buyeo) is a temple located on the southern slope of Seongheungsan Mountain (260.1m) in the southern part of Buyeo County. Built in the early 6th century, like the nearby Garimseong Fortress, it boasts a history of nearly 1,500 years and features high stone walls, giving it a fortress-like appearance. According to legend, an old monk was meditating under a rock when he saw a large bird perch on the rock and fell asleep; upon waking, the rock had transformed into a statue of Maitreya Bodhisattva, leading to the temple being named Daejosa. The stone standing Maitreya Bodhisattva statue, about 10 meters high, erected on the large rock where Avalokitesvara appeared, is designated as a Treasure. It is one of the giant stone Maitreya Bodhisattva statues popular during the Goryeo Dynasty, and is considered a counterpart to the stone Maitreya Bodhisattva statue at Gwanchoksa Temple in Nonsan. The statue is highly regarded for sharing the same local style as the Gwanchoksa stone Maitreya Bodhisattva. The stone pagoda standing in front of Daejosa's Wontongbojeon Hall, originally built during the Goryeo Dynasty and partially remaining, was restored and designated as a Chungcheongnam-do Cultural Heritage Material. A wooden seated Bodhisattva statue, believed to have been made in the late Joseon Dynasty, is also designated as a Chungcheongnam-do Tangible Cultural Heritage. Nearby attractions include Seongheungsan Mountain, Buyeo Garimseong Fortress, Imcheon Hyanggyo Confucian School, Imcheon Market, and Bokgeum Reservoir.

Address: 112, Seongheung-ro 197beon-gil, Imcheon-myeon, Buyeo-gun, Chungcheongnam-do