Mireuksa (site)

 museum, pagoda, buddhist temple

Mireuksa was the largest Buddhist temple in the ancient kingdom of Baekje in the Korean Peninsula. The temple was established in 602 by King Mu.

The site was excavated in 1980, disclosing many previously unknown facts about Baekje architecture. Mireuksaji Stone Pagoda is one of two existing Baekje stone pagodas being the largest, as well as, the among the oldest of all Korean pagodas.

The legend of the creation of Mireuksa says King Mu and his queen were said to have seen a vision of Maitreya at a pond on Yonghwasan. The King promptly had the pond drained to establish the Mireuksa temple complex. The nine-story wooden pagoda that once stood in the center of the complex is said to have been the work of Baekje master craftsman Abiji.

Designated South Korean Historic Site No. 150, Mireuksa has been partially restored and now includes a museum.

On June 20, 2018 the second restoration of the Mireuksa pagoda was completed