A Study on the Location and Construction Process of Baekje Temples in Iksan

This paper reviews the locations of Baekje temples and the construction processes of major buildings, paying attention to the commonalities and differences of the temples that coexisted in Geumma-myeon, Iksan. First, the conditions for selecting the temple’s location were estimated through the review of the natural topography of the temple site. It is estimated that the location of Jeseoksa Temple site, situated at the base of a hill, was selected taking into consideration efficiency in construction, safety from flooding, and geographical proximity to the palace. The location of Mireuksa Temple site was selected in order to secure a large space that was cut off from the surroundings, which is related to the political and religious intentions behind the temple’s construction. It is confirmed that the temple of the Wanggung-ri site was constructed at a site which minimized changes to the landscape and made the most of the existing topography and facilities that had been established during the palace stage. The background of the temple’s construction, the conditions of the natural topography, and the degree of input of goods, time, and labor were found to have caused various similarities and differences in the construction processes of the buildings. In valleys and places of sloping terrain, land formation was carried out by cutting and piling soil to secure flat ground. The foundation of the building was firmly constructed by excavating the base layer and alternating soil, and depending on the location, large stones were stacked at the bottom to facilitate drainage. It was confirmed that the base of the building was built horizontally or inclined inside and outside with the stone walls or stone columns used as the boundary. The exterior of the building was heightened by using a double-ended structure. It was confirmed that various pillar construction methods were used because pillars were not only constructed in soil but also in soil and stone mixed structures. These characteristics identified for 7th century Iksan temple buildings are understood to show not only the superiority and universality of Baekje’s civil engineering and construction technology, but also its diversity and elasticity.