history

Anguk Temple is in Ponghak-dong of Phyongsong City, South Phyongan Province.

Built for more than 20 years in the period of Koguryo Kingdom (277 BC-AD 668), it is one of the oldest temples still remaining in the DPRK.

According to records, it was originally a large temple with dozens of buildings.

Now remaining there are the Taeung Hall, the main building of the temple, the Thaephyong Pavilion, the Juphil Pavilion, a dormitory for Buddhist monks, a nine-storey pagoda and a monument.

The Taeung Hall is a cultural heritage element of great academic and architectural significance, which shows excellent architecture.

The Thaephyong Pavilion, which stands face to face with the Taeung Hall with a yard in between, is a single-storey structure with a gable roof with double eaves. It is 19.25m at the façade and 6.8m on the flank.

In front of the pavilion stands the nine-storey pagoda.

The pagoda, which is mostly believed to have been built after the middle period of the Koryo Kingdom, is proof positive that the Anguk Temple was also run in the period of the Koryo Kingdom (918-1392) and a valuable heritage element in the study of the art of construction of stone pagoda and sculpture at the time.

The ginkgo of the Anguk Temple, a natural monument, grows near the pagoda.