Hungdeok temple site is located in
the foot of yangbyung mountain, Eunchon-dong, Chongju.
Many relics and temple sites have been found in the
vicinity of Eunchon-dong, Cheongju that indicates Buddhism
flourished at the end of Shilla, However, due to the absence
of documentary record, not even a landmark research has been
conducted. On December 1984 the Korean land development
corporation was about to begin a 'housing site development at
Eunchon district', however, Chunbuk province admitted the
necessity of the site to be excavated and proceeded the
'Eunchon-dong temple site excavation research'. The
researcher in charge Park Sang Il found out an unknown temple
site and collected 3 rounded and squared cornerstones properly
faced by granite, chimipyun(fish tale shaped roof tile), and
roof tiles engraved whith yonhwamun or dangchomun that is
assumed to be from Goryeo era around a graveyard to the
southwest direction not far away from the site. Later he
conducted several on the spot researches and ÆòÆÇ surveys. He
made a research report and submitted it to Chunbuk province
bringing up the fact that the area was inside the 'housing
site development at Eunchon district' and therefore, proper
preservation measures be taken. On January 1985 Chungbuk
province requested that Chungbuk branch of Korean Land
Development Corporation halt the construction for preservation
of the site, however, Chungbuk branch of Korean Land
Development Corporation continued the construction and
developed building lots all the way through the main
building's remains which is the center of the site. That
resulted in the destruction of the remains and the loss of
many relics. Meanwhile, on march 1983 the Chungbuk cultural
properties protection committee determined the excavation of
this temple site, and on may of the same year the Museum of
Cheongju University named this temple site as Yeondang-ri
temple site after its old place name, and submitted an
excavation research plan to Chungbuk province. Chungbuk
province after getting the approval from the cultural property
preservation bureau on july, allowed an overall excavation
research on the non-damaged west half of the site by the
museum of Chongju university from July to october. While the
excavation research was in progress 25 Buddhist bowls were
found including bronze bells, bronze Geumgang-jo, and bronze
gong in the developed for building slots. As the purpose of
the excavation research was finding out the temple's original
condition by researching the site's remains, as well as
finding the name and the history of the temple through
unearthed relics, they devoted themselves in the research of
relics. As the temple site was excavated it was confirmed
that the temple existed between late 14Century and early
15century and it was entirely closed by fire. Since the temple
site's east half was already damaged when the excavation
started, mostly the north west part's relics were excavated
such as the main building which its southeast side was
damaged, east corridor site and Bakjun building site attached
to the end of the corridor. However, judged by the temple's
feature it is assumed that the buildings would have been
located symmetrically. Later on octotober 1985 at the east
side of the temple site, bronze made vases and bowls inscribed
with were excavated
and it was certain that this site was of the Hungdok temple
which printed the world's oldest metal type printed book and
world registered heritage Jikji and Jabidoryangchambobjibhe.
As soon as the research team confirmed that the site was
Hungdeok temle's site, they sent a memorandum to government
authorities requesting the sites preservation, and the
Ministry of Culture and Information directed a halt on the
development and ordered to preserve the site and also sent a
member of the cultural committee to survey the site. As a
result on 30 October preservation measures such as
pre-designating 4598 pyong around the site were taken, and on
April 1986 they named 10,711 pyung of the Hundeok temple site
as No.315 historical site after the resolution of the cultural
properties protection committee. When the Hungdeok temple
site was in progress of becoming a historical site, some came
up saying that concluding the site is of Heungdeok temple just
by one bronze gong engraved with could be
wrong, while others were expecting to see metal movable type
mint remains or the actual metal type printed book. Following
the public's opinion Chungbuk province requested a thorough
research to the museum of Chongju university, and they
examined the site thoroughly even using metal detectors from 2
May 1986 for 18 days. The thorough examination using metal
detectors failed in finding metal movable type mint or the
mteal type printed book, however, they excavated 2 pieces of
bronze pennant pole with dragon head shape, bronze Buddha
bowls and other bronze relics near the site where bronze
bells, bronze gongs engraved with Hundeok temple, and many
bronze relics were found. Especially, the bronze bowl engraved
with the word hwang tong shib nyon became a decisive material
to reconfirm Hungdeok temple site. Hwang tong shib nyon which
refers to the 5th year of Goryeo King Euijong's reign(1150) is
an important data that could be used to assume the historical
date of the relics and even the history of the hundeok temple
site. The unfound body part of the bronze gong engraved with
was discovered on June 1986 and was reverted
to the national treasury. On its side, the word kab in nyun
was engraved.
Significance of the
excavation
Hungdeok temple is a single pagoda
Buddhist temple facing south, and over the central axis line
is the inner gate, pagoda, main building and the lecture hall.
It follows the traditional style starting from the three state
era surrounded by east and west corridor. Each buildings are
assumed to have been changed slightly due to repairing causes.
Later, the main building that has a 5 deck front and 3 deck
flank multi -eave octagonal roof and the 3 story pagoda was
restored and the corridor site and lecture hall site was
consolidated by planting grasses so that the cornerstone would
be exposed. At the south of the Hungdeok temple site the
Chongju Early Printing Museum is established to learn our
countries early printing history and as the center stage of
21st century's informational culture industry.
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Significance of the
excavation
Significance of the
excavation