Daeungjeon Hall, Sudeoksa, Yesan

A Goryeo column-head-bracket hall built in 1308 — the oldest wooden building whose date is certain.

An ink inscription found during repairs in 1937 showed that it was built in 1308 (34th year of King Chungnyeol), making it the oldest wooden building in Korea with a firmly known date.

It is in the jusimpo style, with brackets only on the columns, a gabled roof and entasis columns. The timber framing exposed on its sides — above all the curved "ox-tail" beams — makes it a model of Goryeo wooden architecture. With Geungnakjeon at Bongjeongsa and Muryangsujeon at Buseoksa it is one of the three great Goryeo jusimpo halls, and a National Treasure. Since only a handful of Goryeo wooden buildings survive, its firm date makes it a yardstick for dating the others.