Pohyon Temple

About this place

Pohyon Temple is a Korean Buddhist temple at the foot of Mount Myohyang, in Hyangsan county in the north of North Korea. It was founded under the Koryo kingdom in the early 11th century and grew into one of the greatest centres of Buddhism in northern Korea and a well-known place of pilgrimage. It is said to have been founded in 1024 and is named after Pohyon, the bodhisattva Samantabhadra. In the late 16th century it was the base of the monk Sosan, who led bands of monks against the Japanese invasion and died at the temple in 1604. Many of its buildings were rebuilt in the 20th century, and it is listed as a national treasure. From outside you see wooden halls with red pillars and white walls, grey tiled roofs with upturned eaves and painted patterns beneath them. In the sandy courtyard stands a many-tiered octagonal stone pagoda, and flower gardens, firs and green mountains surround the buildings. It is about 4 km from the town of Hyangsan in a straight line. It is a place of worship, so keep quiet and dress modestly. Foreign visitors can only come on organised tours, and the country has been closed to most tourists in recent years. The UK Foreign Office advises against all but essential travel to North Korea, so read the current advice before you plan.