Kwangbop Temple, situated in Taesong-dong, Taesong District, is one of the typical Buddhist temples in Pyongyang and the surrounding area. It was built during the period ruled by King Kwanggaetho of Koguryo and rebuilt in 1727. In July, 1952, during the Fatherland Liberation War, it was completely destroyed by the US imperialists’ bombing and it was restored to its original state in 1990.
Kwangbop Temple is comprised of Taeung Hall, eastern and western monasteries, five-storied octagonal pagoda, etc. The buildings are distributed symmetrically with the pagoda in the center. The way of siting buildings on the four sides of a pagoda was frequently found in the period of Koguryo.
Taeung Hall, the main building of the temple, is a magnificent two-storied gabled house. In the hall are placed three Buddhist statues including Shakyamuni Tathagata and some Buddhist images. The hall is painted colorfully in glittering gold.
The lotus pond transmitted from olden times and the monument to Kwangbop Temple erected in 1727 still remain around the temple. The legend about the nine dragons and ninety-nine ponds of Mt. Taesong, namely, Mt. Kuryong is recorded on the monument.
Kwangbop Temple on the picturesque Mt. Taesong is in good preservation and care as a national treasure and a precious cultural legacy demonstrating the advanced architectural skills of Korean ancestors in those times.