Hongseong Yongbongsa Temple Bell Designated as Chungnam Tangible Cultural Property

1772 Imandol Production

The 'Yongbongsa Temple Bell' in Hongseong, Chungnam, has been designated as a tangible cultural property of Chungnam.

According to Hongseong County on the 31st, the Yongbongsa Temple Bell was discovered at Gilsangsa Temple in Changwon, Gyeongnam, in 2021. At that time, Muja Monk, the head monk of Gilsangsa Temple, found an inscription reading 'Hongju Yongbongsa' on the lower part of the bell and brought it to Yongbongsa Temple.

The Yongbongsa Temple Bell was made in the 37th year of the Qianlong reign (1772) by Lee Mandol. Lee Mandol was a craftsman active in the Chungcheong region in the 18th century and created seven temple bells, including the Yongbongsa Temple Bell, Yeongrangsa Temple Bell, and Yeongtapsa Temple Bell. In particular, the Yongbongsa Temple Bell is regarded as Lee Mandol's masterpiece due to its more elaborate and stable pattern arrangement compared to other bells.

The Yongbongsa Temple Bell is currently stored in the Sudeoksa Temple Geunyeokseongbo Storage for research purposes and is planned to be moved back to the Yongbongsa Temple precinct in the future.

Kim Taegi, Director of the Culture and Tourism Division, said, "We consider it very meaningful that the bell, which had been taken out, has returned to Yongbongsa Temple after 250 years," adding, "We will do our best to discover and preserve valuable local cultural heritage."