Pohyon Temple, built in 1042, is an edifice of high artistic value representing Korea's architecture in the early 11th century.

The temple, called in the name of Samantabhadra, was rebuilt several times. Its present main buildings were rebuilt in the middle and latter periods of feudal Joson dynasty (1392-1910).

It was the biggest temple in the northwestern area and a Buddhist center in the region north of the Chongchon River. It was associated with the achievements of Buddhist Saint Sosan, who acted as the head of the army of patriotic priests during the Imjin Patriotic War (1592-1598).

The temple consists of Taeung Hall, Manse Pavilion, Kwanum Hall, Haethal and Chonwang gates, nine-storied quadrangular and 13-storeyed octagonal pagodas piled up with well-trimmed granites, etc. There are also relics like a bell (2.1 meters in height, 4.1 meters in perimeter and 7 tons in weight) which was at Yujom Temple in Mt Kumgang.

Thanks to the policy of the Workers' Party of Korea on national heritage conservation, the Myohyangsan History Museum was founded with the buildings of this temple in Juche 36 (1947) and a Korean-style archive was built to preserve "80,000 Blocks of Complete Collection of Buddhist Scriptures", a historical relic of national treasure.

President Kim Il Sung and Chairman Kim Jong Il visited the area on several occasions and gave instructions for preserving well the cultural heritage left by ancestors for posterity.