Judging by the remaining ancient records and the architectural style, the current Daeungjeon Hall of Yongmunsa Temple in Namhae was built in 1666 (7th year of the reign of King Hyeonjong of Joseon) under the supervision of a monk named Ilhyang, and was renovated in 1773 (47th year of the reign of King Yeongjo).
The building features a three-kan* by three-kan structure with multiple clusters of decorative brackets supporting a hip-and-gable roof. The foundation of the building is double-tiered at the front and single-tiered at the sides and the back, reflecting the topography of the site.
The ceiling of the hall is decorated with motifs of sea animals including turtles, crab, fish and seaweed.
The layout of the floor, decorative brackets, roof framing and canopy exhibit the characteristic architectural elements of the central prayer halls of Buddhist temples built in and after the eighteenth century. The hall also provides important clues about the spread of an architectural style developed in the southwestern part of Korea to the east, where it was further developed.
(*kan: a unit of measurement referring to the distance between two columns)