Author: National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage
Publisher: Korea Heritage Service
Publication Date: February 28, 2019
Language: Korean
Format: Print (Illustrated Catalogue) oversized tabloid format (250 mm × 350 mm)
Color Photos: Over 3,500
Page Count: 2,800
Keywords  #NorthKorea #Art #Traditional Buddhist Temples
 
Overview
The illustrated catalogue Traditional Buddhist Temples of North Korea (10 volumes) represents the most significant outcome of an inter-Korean Buddhist cultural exchange project led by the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism’s Committee for the Promotion of National Reconciliation.
Conducted between 2009 and 2010, the project was produced through direct on-site photography in cooperation with North Korea’s Choson Cultural Heritage Preservation Agency and the Korean Buddhist Federation.
 
Format & Specifications
This catalogue is produced in an oversized tabloid format (250 mm × 350 mm), comprising approximately 2,800 pages in total.
Includes over 3,500 full-color photographs
Premium five-color printing for high-end design quality
Panoramic views of each temple’s current condition
Detailed historical records for each temple
Bilingual captions (Chinese characters and English) provided for international readers
 
The volumes are systematically organized by province across North Korea:
Vol. 1: Pyongyang & South Pyongan Province
Vols. 2–4: North Pyongan Province (Upper, Middle, Lower)
Vol. 5: Kaesong
Vol. 6: South Hwanghae Province
Vol. 7: North Hwanghae Province
Vol. 8: Jagang Province & South Hamgyong (Part 1)
Vol. 9: South Hamgyong (Part 2) & North Hamgyong
Vol. 10: Kangwon Province
 
Scope of Documentation
The catalogue documents:
59 officially recognized existing traditional temples
6 newly revealed temple sites (ruins)
Total: 65 temple heritage sites
 
Newly disclosed ruins include:
Jangan Temple Site
Hwajang Temple Site
Mahayeon Site
Hakrim Temple Site
Hyeonhwa Temple Site
Singwang Temple Site
 
These sites are presented for the first time through photographic records.
Major temples featured include:
Bohyeon Temple (Mt. Myohyang)
Gwangbeop Temple (Pyongyang)
Gwaneum Temple (Kaesong)
Pyohun Temple (Mt. Kumgang)
 
Key Features of Documentation
The defining feature of this catalogue lies in its comprehensive and detailed visual documentation of temple structures, including:
Main halls and auxiliary buildings
Buddhist statues
Buddhist paintings (thangkas and murals)
Decorative dancheong patterns
Stone pagodas
Monumental inscriptions
 
Unlike previous works that focused primarily on exterior views of major structures, this catalogue systematically records:
Interior spaces of worship halls
Detailed iconography of statues
Wall paintings and scroll paintings
Decorative motifs and craftsmanship
Epigraphic details on monuments
Each temple is presented through a balanced composition of wide-angle and close-up photography, enabling both architectural overview and detailed analysis.
 
Value and Significance
This catalogue represents:
The first comprehensive survey of traditional Buddhist temples in North Korea
A model case of inter-Korean cultural cooperation
A complete archival record of Korean Peninsula Buddhist heritage
 
It serves as a critical resource for:
Academic researchers
Cultural heritage policymakers
Buddhist leaders
General audiences interested in Korean culture
 
As the most recent original photographic record, it provides:
Accurate documentation of the current condition of North Korean temples
A baseline reference for future cultural heritage restoration projects
 
The work systematically preserves the present state of Buddhist heritage in North Korea before potential alteration or deterioration, establishing a vital archive for the entire Korean Peninsula.
Due to restricted access to North Korean sites, this catalogue holds exceptional historical value as the only comprehensive field-based academic documentation.
It also functions as a foundational reference for:
Future inter-Korean Buddhist exchanges
Joint preservation initiatives
Academic collaboration
 
Furthermore, it is an essential resource for understanding:
Architectural styles of the Goryeo and Joseon periods
Artistic characteristics of Buddhist sculpture and painting
Regional diversity and continuity in Korean Buddhist art