Panjeon Hall and the giant Maitreya Buddha both symbolize Bongeunsa, but they are not from the same historical period. Panjeon dates to 1856, while construction of the modern Buddha began in 1986 and finished in 1996.
An old repository
Panjeon protects Buddhist woodblocks and bears a sign attributed to Kim Jeong-hui. Its contents are records requiring conservation, not props that are always open for viewing.
A modern place of faith
The Maitreya Buddha is a late twentieth-century religious monument, not an ancient relic. Record the age difference rather than ranking one as more authentic. Together they show how Bongeunsa preserves old architecture while continuing to create new sacred spaces.