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There is no concrete record on the founding of Mireuk-sa, the biggest Buddhist temple in Baekje, except the legendary story collected in the Samgukyusa. But the mention in the Samgukyusa that Mireuksa was also called Wangheung-sa in the Samguksagi is noteworthy. As both the temples were built during the reign of King Mu under the sponsorship of Royal family it is possible that the former is the same with the latter. Wangheung-sa in the Samguksagi, founded first by King Beop (r.599-600) in 600 but completed by his son King Mu(r.600-641) in 634, has been regarded as the temple with the same name in Buyeo. But recent archaeological research showed that the temple in Buyeo was built in the late 6th century much earlier than the reign of King Mu. Instead, the archaeological research shows that the Mireuk-sa was built during the first half of the 7th century, which approximately accords with the founding period of Wnagheung-sa recorded in the Samguksagi. Mireuk-sa is most suitable among all the known temples in Baekje for the Wangheung-sa. With the background of King Beop's founding of Mireuk-sa in Iksan far from the capital we can consider the possibility of his living in the area before his accession to the throne. The palace in Iksan might have been the residence of a high rank royal family rather than the constant or temporary residence of the King, as it had little defence and government facilities. It is regarded to be built during the latter half of 7th Century according to the recent researches and most probable constructer and resider of it can be Prince Hye, the younger brother and most influential successor of King Wideok(r.554-598), and his family. King Beop might have lived in the palace in Iksan as the son of Prince Hye, and the experience could have encouraged him to found a royal temple in Iksan. King Mu, who might also had spent his childhood as the grandson of Prince Hye in the palace in Iksan, tried to strengthen the importance of Iksan. Besides completing the Wangheung-sa to fulfill his father's wish King Mu also enlarged the palace and founded Jeseok-sa as the guardian temple for it. During the King Mu's reign Iksan became the holy city with two big royal temples dedicated respectively to Maitreya, the future Buddha, and to Indra, the heaven god. But from about the 31st year of his reign King Mu seems to have lost sovereignty and replaced by his son Uija. The supplementary construction of Mireuk-sa was also led by Queen instead of King Mu. In the Sharira dedication record found in the stone stupa in Mireuk-sa Queen Satak praised as the founder of the temple and blessed as the successor of Buddha. The story recorded in the Samgukyusa that Mireuk-sa was found following the Queen's wish might be the reflection of the Queen's leading role in the final completion of the temple.
