Kumsan-sa or Gold Mountain Temple is located on Mt. Moak-san near Chonju.
Originally built in 600 CE, according to the temple records 38 monks were ordained at the temple in that same year. After numerous destructions and rebuildings, the present buildings were erected in 1635 after the others were destroyed in the Hideyoshi Invasion of the 16th century. There are many treasures which pre-date the present buildings. The temple is now one of the principle centers of the region and one of the biggest in Korea.
Master Chinp'yo (known around 742-780) was responsible for the construction of the temple from 762 to 766 when he enlarged the existing number of buildings. According to a legend, Master Chinp'yo, after returning from China, had a vision of Maitreya Buddha and he received a book on divination in two rolls and 189 divination sticks from Maitreya. This book on divination then became the principal authority on the subject in Korea. And due to this, King Kyongdok invited the master to his palace in order to receive instruction and predictions.

Master Chinp'yo decided to build a temple to Maitreya and call it Kumsan-sa. On his way, he met a dragon king who presented the master with a robe of jade and guided him to Kum-san forest. There, miraculously, men and women from everywhere came to help. The temple was built in a few days and when it was completed, Maitreya came to give Chinp'yo his final ordination.
In memory of this event, Chinp'yo created a Maitreya Buddha Hall, the focal point of Kumsan-sa. After that, the master set up a platform and taught the people well.

This Maitreya Buddha Hall (National Treasure No. 62) is over 20 meters high. It is the only ancient, wooden, three-storey hall in Korea, each storey has a different name and so a different name board. The first floor is "Great Compassion Hall." The second is "Dragon Flower Meeting" and the third is "Maitreya Hall." In order to support the immense roof, special corner eave pillars were created.

Enshrined is a statue of the future Buddha, Maitreya. This gilded, standing statue is 11.82 meters high and is flanked by two attendants, each 8.79 meters high. The Maitreya statue is modeled after a Shilla statue although it actually dates from the early 20th century. The hand position is one of "have no fear." The assistants date from the Choson Period. On the southern wall is a painting of Maitreya giving the monks' rules to Chinp'yo. Because of this strong connection with Maitreya, Kumsan-sa followed the Dharmalaksana, or Dharma Aspect School.

In Korea, the traditional buildings of palaces and temples are painted with amazingly bright colored geometrical patterns. These designs are called "tanch'ong," meaning "red and blue," the principle colors used. Tanch'ong was introduced to the peninsula through the Koguryo Kingdom probably somewhere about the time that Buddhism was accepted, in 372 CE. The main aim of tanch'ong is protection of the wood. The wood is carefully treated before applying the base or background pigment in order to protect it from humidity and decay. Then the design to be painted on is outlined using chalk powder over pinholes made in the paper of the design. Now the wood is ready to receive the bright colors of the mineral paints used. Finally a coating of oil is applied and the paintings are gone over with a hot iron.
In this way the wood is protected from the elements as well as from mold and bugs.

In front of the Maitreya Hall is a strange hexagonal stone pagoda, Treasure No. 27. Dating from the Koryo Period, probably late 10th century, this kind of hexagonal, sometimes octagonal, pagoda was popular at the time. It stands 2.18 meters high and the 11 remaining storeys are well balanced. Originally it probably had 13 storeys.

Kumsan-sa Temple has many other treasures. Among them, the five-storey pagoda is thought to date from the Koryo period. It is Treasure No. 25 and is rather different from other pagodas of the period. Possibly this difference is the result of some foreign influence. Next to the five-storey pagoda is a stone bell, a pagoda shaped like a bell, Treasure No. 26, similar to the one at T'ongdo-sa and the one which holds Master Naong's ashes at Shilluk-sa. It probably dates from early Koryo and the technique used in carving it is very refined. This form of pagoda is thought to have been imported from India. There are Buddhas and guardians carved on the face of the stone. The stone lotus support or pedestal is Treasure No. 23 and thought to date from the 10th century. It is to the southeast of the Main Hall and shows a very refined level of carving. The upper lotus is open, the lower lotus is finely balanced with the upper one. There is also a stone lamp, Treasure No. 828; an incense burner stand; a Dew Pillar, Treasure No. 22, of undetermined use; and a flagpole, Treasure No. 28.