The Founding and Early Architectural Layout of Geumsansa Temple in Gimje

This paper delves into the founding period, founder, and early architectural layout of Geumsansa Temple in Gimje, a revered site within the Maitreya faith. To accomplish this, a meticulous examination of records related to Buddhist monk Jinpyo (眞表) was undertaken, shedding light on the temple's founding period. Subsequently, the temple's layout structure at its inception was scrutinized through a comparative analysis with Mireuksa Temple in Iksan, a notable neighboring temple associated with Maitreya faith, along with Beopjusa Temple and Donghwasa Temple, both established by Jinpyo's disciples. Furthermore, the architectural evolution of Geumsansa Temple during the Later Baekje period, which led to the creation of its current temple structure, was reviewed. The progression from the founding of Geumsansa Temple to its reconstruction during the Later Baekje period can be summarized as follows: ① Geumsansa Temple was founded by Jinpyo. ② During Jinpyo's era, the temple's buildings were aligned along the east-west axis, with the Gold Hall (Geumdang, Maitreya Hall) housing the enshrined Maitreya Buddha, positioned to face westward. ③ The Songdae (松臺) and Maitreya Hall have been integral since the temple's inception, featuring a vertical two-tiered spatial arrangement accommodating 'Upper－Songdae－Maitreya Bodhisattva' and 'Lower - Gold Hall－Maitreya Buddha.' ④ The vertical spatial configuration observed in Geumsansa Temple is also present in nearby Mireuksa Temple in Iksan, as well as Beopjusa Temple and Donghwasa Temple, both related to Jinpyo. ⑤ During the Later Baekje period, Geumsansa Temple attained national prominence, serving as a venue for various rituals, including ordination. ⑥ A stone structure for ordination was erected on the Songdae at that time. ⑦ Given the location of the five-story stone pagoda built in the early Goryeo period (estimated 976~984), it is presumed that the ordination platform built during the Later Baekje period was smaller than the current platform. ⑧ Additionally, considering the placement of flagpole supports at Geumsansa Temple, it is inferred that new buildings were constructed along the north-south axis during the Later Baekje period.