Remains from the Beophwasa Temple Site

Developed into a Jeju's major Buddhist temple during the Goryeo period, Beophwasa became the island's central Buddhist temple with over 280 servants serving it in the early Joseon Period. The latest excavation of the temple site produced inscribed rooftiles, Chinese celadon works, roof-end tiles decorated with dragon and phoenix motifs. The discovery of the "female" end tile decorated with dragon design, which is similar to the tiles used for the imperial palaces and major government buildings of the Yuan dynasty, shows that the monastery was re-established by the Mongol after the establishment of the Tamna Commandery in Jeju or had a very important building related with the Mongol empire. Other discoveries such as fine-quality celadon bowls, rooftiles decorated with a great variety of designs and bronze vessels provide further proof that it was a prosperous temple during the late Goryeo period.