Sansa, Buddhist Mountain Monasteries in Korea
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How it came to be
Sansa are Buddhist monasteries in the mountains of the southern Korean Peninsula. The seven in the World Heritage property were founded between the 7th and 9th centuries and share a layout specific to Korea: a madang, or open courtyard, flanked by a Buddha hall, a pavilion, a lecture hall and a dormitory. The oldest, Tongdosa, was founded in 646 by the monk Jajang under Queen Seondeok of Silla.
Uisang founded Buseoksa in 676, Bongjeongsa followed in 677, Beopjusa in the mid-8th century, and Magoksa, Seonamsa and Daeheungsa in the later 9th century. Buseoksa was where Uisang taught Hwaeom (Huayan) Buddhism, and its main hall, Muryangsujeon, was rebuilt in 1376. Tongdosa enshrines relics of the Buddha said to have been brought back by Jajang, which is why it has no outdoor Buddha statues.
The seven temples keep many buildings, objects, documents and shrines and remain living centres of faith and daily practice. They were inscribed in 2018.
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