If one could ascribe gender to temples, I'd call Geumsan-sa, a 'she'. There's something particularly feminine about her graceful curves and she does look particularly fetching dressed in the snowy-white mantle of winter, doesn't she?
On a more serious note, this temple is one of Korea's most important Buddhist temples. Believed to have been founded in 599 A.D. It developed into an important monastery in the 8th century and sadly like many other temples during the Japanese invasion in the 16th century, was razed to the ground and subsequently reconstructed in 1635. The Mireukjeon Hall, National Treasure No. 62, is the "only remaining three-storey traditional structure in Korea".
It's also probably one of the few buildings which has special names for each level. Daejabojeon (Hall of Great Mercy and Treasure) is situated on the first floor while the second floor is Yonghwajihoe (Gathering of Dragon and Beauty), and the third floor is called Mireuk-jeon (Hall of Maitreya). Pay attention as well to the supporting columns which get more and more slender, the higher they are.
A short drive from Jeonju, Geumsan-sa is also easily accessible by bus. For more information, click here.
source:
http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_6.jsp?cid=262538
http://www.orientalarchitecture.com/koreasouth/ruralchungbuk/geumsansa_gallery.php?p=geumsansa02.jpg
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