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Hyangcheonsa Temple – 향천사 (Yesan, Chungcheongnam-do)
Temple History Hyangcheonsa Temple is located in northern Yesan, Chungcheongnam-do in a valley below Mt. Geumosan. Hyangcheonsa Temple was first built by the Buddhist monk Uigak in 656 A.D. Uigak traveled to Japan in 653 A.D. and stayed at Baekjesa Temple for a while. Then he moved to Tang China (618–690, 705–907 A.D.). While there, he carved some 3,053 statues of the Buddha and statues of the sixteen Nahan (The Historical Disciples of the Buddha) out of jade. He also made a Buddha triad out of cedar over a three-year period. In 655 A.D., and after transporting these statues to a seaside village in Yesan from a ship made of…
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Munsusa Temple – 문수사 (Seosan, Chungcheongnam-do)
Temple History Munsusa Temple in Seosan, Chungcheongnam-do, which shouldn’t be confused with the dozens of other temples with the same name, is located in the northwestern foothills of Mt. Sangwangsan (309.5 m). Munsusa Temple is named after the Bodhisattva of Wisdom, Munsu-bosal. The exact date of the temple’s founding is unknown. However based upon the layout of the temple buildings, it’s presumed that the temple was first established during the Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392). And to further reinforce this point, artifacts were discovered inside the seated gilt-bronze Amita-bul (The Buddha of the Western Paradise) statue inside the Geukrakbo-jeon Hall in 1973. A dated document inside this statue indicates that it was…
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Stone Buddhas in Four Directions in Hwajeon-ri – 예산 화전리 석조사면불상 (Yesan, Chungcheongnam-do)
Relief History The “Stone Buddhas in Four Directions in Hwajeon-ri” is located in Yesan, Chungcheongnam-do in the southern foothills of Mt. Obongsan (225.3 m). This four-sided stone relief was first discovered in 1983. When it was discovered, the four-sided stone relief was damaged, and it was also partially buried. It’s estimated that this relief was first created around 527 A.D. in the Baekje Kingdom (18 B.C. – 660 A.D.) after the completion of King Muryeonng of Baekje’s Tomb in Gongju, Chungcheongnam-do. The “Stone Buddhas in Four Directions in Hwajeon-ri” is the earliest four-sided stone Buddha relief in Korea. This relief is closely related in style to the “Rock-carved Buddha Triad…
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Yeongtapsa Temple – 영탑사 (Dangjin, Chungcheongnam-do)
Temple History Yeongtapsa Temple is located in southern Dangjin, Chungcheongnam-do in the eastern foothills of Mt. Yongsan (254.8 m). It’s believed to have first been founded by Doseon-guksa (826-898 A.D.) at the end of the Silla Dynasty (57 B.C. – 935 A.D.). However, there appears to be no clear evidence to support this claim. During the mid-Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392), Jinul (1158–1210) erected a five-story stone pagoda in front of the current Daebang Hall. It was at this time that he named the temple Yeongtapsa Temple. Later, Muhak-daesa (1327–1405) carved the “Yaksayeorae-bul of Yeongtapsa Temple” into a natural rock at temple, and he also rebuilt the temple, as well. He also…
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Former Seogyeongsa Temple – 구 서경사 (Gyeongju)
Temple History The former Seogyeongsa Temple is located in central Gyeongju. According to the sign that details the history of Seogyeongsa Temple, Seogyeongsa Temple was built around 1932 during Japanese Colonial Rule (1910-45). However, and according to archival documents, what’s more likely is that Seogyeongsa Temple was first built between 1936-37 by Shibata Dankuro, who was a prominent Japanese businessman in Gyeongju. Seogyeongsa Temple was first built to support the religious lives of Japanese Buddhists residing in Gyeongju. Shibata first came to the Korean Peninsula before the Japanese annexation of Korea in 1910. Initially, Shibata moved to the Korean Peninsula to work in gold mining; however, he would ultimately fail.…
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Gwaneumsa Temple – 관음사 (Jung-gu, Daegu)
Temple History Gwaneumsa Temple is located in central Daegu in Jung-gu. Gwaneumsa Temple is one of only four temples still in existence in Korea that was built by the Japanese during Japanese Colonial Rule (1910-45). Other Japanese-style temples include the former Seogyeongsa Temple in Gyeongju, Dongguksa Temple in Gunsan, Jeollabuk-do, and the former Dongbongwonsa Temple in Mokpo, Jeollanam-do. Gwaneumsa Temple was first founded in 1916 by a Japanese monk. The temple was built by the Oriental Development Company for the Japanese residents of Daegu that included government officials. Originally, the temple was known as Seonnimsa Temple. After Korea’s liberation from Japan in 1945, the temple was classified as “jeoksan,” or…
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Illaksa Temple – 일락사 (Seosan, Chungcheongnam-do)
Temple History Illaksa Temple is located in southeastern Seosan, Chungcheongnam-do in the western foothills of Mt. Illaksan (521.4 m). It’s believed that Illaksa Temple was first established in 663 A.D. by the monk Uihyeon-seonsa. However, it’s difficult to verify the very existence of Uihyeon-seonsa. Eventually, the temple would fall into disrepair at one point only to be restored during the early part of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910). According to the “Record of the Reconstruction of the Daeung-jeon Hall of Illaksa Temple,” which was produced in 1918, Illaksa Temple has undergone numerous reconstructions including in 1487, 1530, and 1649. The earliest known reconstruction at Illaksa Temple occurred during the mid-Joseon Dynasty…
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Buseoksa Temple – 부석사 (Seosan, Chungcheongnam-do)
Temple History Buseoksa Temple in Seosan, Chungcheongnam-do, which shouldn’t be confused with the more famous Buseoksa Temple in Yeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do, is located to the west of Mt. Dobisan (352.8 m). The temple was purportedly first established in 677 A.D. by the famed monk Uisang-daesa (625-702 A.D.). Buseoksa Temple means “Floating Rock Temple” in English. Little is known about the temple’s history except that it was rebuilt during the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) by the monk Muhak (1327-1405). Later, and during the 20th century, both Gyeongheo (1846-1912) and Mangong (1871-1946) lived and taught at Buseoksa Temple. Originally, there was a wooden seated statue of Amita-bul (The Buddha of the Western Paradise) that…
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Taeeulam Hermitage – 태을암 (Taean, Chungcheongnam-do)
Hermitage History Taeeulam Hermitage is located in northern Taean, Chungcheongnam-do to the west of Mt. Baekhwasan (284.6 m) near the coast of the Yellow Sea. The exact date and founder of the hermitage are both unknown, however, it’s believed that Taeeulam Hermitage was first established when the Taeil-jeon Hall moved to Taean from Uiseong, Gyeongsangbuk-do. Housed inside the Taeil-jeon Hall was a portrait of Dangun, who is the legendary founder of Korea. And the reason for moving the Taeil-jeon Hall from Uiseong to the Taean is that it was to symbolically promote safety and peace to the people of the area. Taean was not only a gateway for the entry…
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Juksa Temple – 죽사 (Seosan, Chungcheongnam-do)
Temple History Juksa Temple, which means “Bamboo Temple” in English, is located on the southern slopes of Mt. Biryongsan in western Seosan, Chungcheongnam-do. Geographically, it’s located near the summit of Mt. Biryongsan with a large rock wall rising on the eastern side of the grounds. This natural rock feature almost appears to encircle the temple, in part, like a folding screen. There are no surviving records about when the temple was first founded, but according to one theory, Juksa Temple was first founded by the monk Dogam-guksa during the reign of King Uija of Baekje (r. 641-660 A.D.). However, since there is no record of a monk named Dogam that…