Archeological Performances on the site of the Gulsansa (Gulsan Buddhist Temple) in Gangreung (Historical Landmark No. 448) and the Gulsansa Goryeo Dynasty

The Gulsansa in Gangreung, which was the head temple of the Gulsanmun among the Gusanseonmun (9 Buddhist temples) established in the latter part of the Silla Dynasty, which was founded in the 13th year of reign of King Munseong of Silla Dynasty (851 AD) by Beomil who was the main deity of Dano Festival (registered as the World Intangible Heritage with the UNESCO) in Gangreung and became the ideological foundation of the local societies at the time, is the central Buddhist temple of the Zen sect of Buddhism in the Yeongdong Region.Excavation activities at the site of the Gulsansa are becoming vigorous through academic investigative research that began in 2010, and this thesis reviewed the properties, as well as time and background for the establishment of the Buddhist Temple on the site of the Gulsansa on the basis of archeological performances secured through excavation investigation. Diverse range of traces of structures and styles of civil engineering including 19 sites of buildings, sites of walls and pedestrian facility, stairs and drainage system, etc were confirmed at the site of the Gulsansa through a total of 2 excavation investigations. Each of these traces of structures and styles of civil engineering can be divided into 2 spaces with different characteristics based on their composition of placement. The eastern portion, although it is not the central district of the Gulsansa, is presumed to be a religious venue that is comparable to the central district based on the scale and the placement appearances of the building sites. The western portion is determined to be the affiliated facility of the eastern potion with functions such as site of Seungbang or Seonbang (Buddhist nunnery). The traces of the Gulsansa that have been confirmed thus far is the Buddhist Temple of Gulsansa that was reconstructed in the middle of Goryeo Dynasty in the 12th \textasciitilde 13th century based on the appearances of the relics excavated from the site. Although the liberal composition of placement of Buddhist temples during the Goryeo Dynasty was popular, the ‘site of the Jungmun (Inner Gate) - Pagoda - site of the Geumdang (Main Building of the Temple) - site of Gangdang (lecture hall for studying Buddhist scriptures)’ is arranged in the central region of the temple, thereby succeeding the traditions of the previous era. In the case of the Gulsansa for which the existence of the pagoda in the records appears to be certain, it was determined that the venues confirmed thus far could not be considered as the central region of the temple.On the other hand, attention was paid to Damjin, the Hyejoguksa, and Tanyeon, the Daegamguksa, who led the Zen sect of Buddhism in the mid-part of the Goryeo Dynasty to examine the background for the rebuilding of the Gulsansa. During the Goryeo Dynasty, merging of the Zen religion was attempted ceaselessly, with the ideology of convergence of doctrines and virtues of Beomil highlighted amongst the Zen Buddhist monks. Accordingly, the Gulsansa, which was the head temple of the Gulsanmun, attained enormous symbolic significance and the current Gulsansa is presumed to be the Buddhist temples established by the disciples of Gulsanmun.