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Gamcheonsa Temple – 감천사 (Yeonje-gu, Busan)
Temple History Gamcheonsa Temple is located in Yeonje-gu, Busan to the northwest of Mt. Baesan (256.3 m). Additionally, Gamcheonsa Temple is only a few metres away from neighbouring Hyewonjeongsa Temple. It’s unclear when Gamcheonsa Temple was first built, but it’s said that it’s the third oldest temple in Busan behind Beomeosa Temple and Mahasa Temple. Before the temple was known as Gamcheonsa Temple, it was known as Beommu-gol Temple. Originally, there once was a small main hall and dorms on the current site of Gamcheonsa Temple. Around 1931, the temple was founded as a small hermitage. And because there was a spring on the grounds that tasted sweet, and it…
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Poseok-gok Valley – 포석곡 (Gyeongju)
Valley Layout The Poseok-gok Valley is located on the northwestern side of Mt. Namsan (495.1 m) in Gyeongju. While not as popular as the neighbouring Samneung-gol Valley or Chilbulam Hermitage on Mt. Namsan, Poseok-gok Valley, and the parallel valley to the north, are filled with four sites for visitors to explore. In total, and depending on how much of the hike you want to do, it can be about 4.5 km, or around 2 hours, to hike the looping trails. From the Poseok-jeong Pavilion parking lot, you’ll make your way east up a paved pathway for about 400 metres. Eventually, you’ll come to the Seonamsan Park Ranger Post. The trail…
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The Rock-Carved Standing Buddha in Yaksu-gyegok Valley – 약수계곡 마애입불상 (Gyeongju)
Carving History The “Rock-Carved Standing Buddha in Yaksu-gyegok Valley” is located up the Yaksu-gol Valley trail on Mt. Namsan (494 m) in Gyeongju. The trail is 1.5 km long, but it’s an advanced level course with in incline of nearly 19 degrees. The massive relief is some 400 metres down the western slopes of Geumo-bong Peak (468 m). And these 400 metres are some of the sketchiest on Mt. Namsan. As for the “Rock-Carved Standing Buddha in Yaksu-gyegok Valley,” and based upon its simplified body shape and the folds on its robe, it’s believed that this relief was first created in the 9th century during late Unified Silla (668-935 A.D.).…
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Geumdaeam Hermitage – 금대암 (Hamyang, Gyeongsangnam-do)
Hermitage History Geumdaeam Hermitage, which is also sometimes referred to as Geumdaesa Temple, is a hermitage directly associated with neighbouring Anguksa Temple in the southern slopes of Mt. Geumdaesan (851.5 m) in southern Hamyang, Gyeongsangnam-do. According to local legend, the Sanshin (The Mountain Spirit) of Mt. Jirisan is believed to be female. However, at Mt. Geumdaesan, which is part of Mt. Jirisan (1,915 m), it’s believed to be a male Sanshin. So the female energy of the mountain concentrates at Mt. Geumdaesan, making it a place of great spiritual power and harmony. Geumdaeam Hermitage means “Gold Platform Hermitage” in English. Geumdaeam Hermitage was first founded in 656 A.D. by the…
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Taejongsa Temple – 태종사 (Yeongdo-gu, Busan)
Temple History Taejongsa Temple is located within Taejongdae Park in Yeongdo-gu, Busan. Taejongsa Temple was first established in 1976 as part of the Jogye-jong Buddhist Order. In September 1983, the Sri Lankan government donated a sari (crystalized remain) of the Buddha, Seokgamoni-bul, as well as two Bodhi trees to the temple. Within the temple grounds, there are about 3,000 hydrangeas. Of these 3,000 flowers, there are ten different varieties, which bloom from June to September. These flowers have been collected over a 40 year period by the temple’s abbot, Doseong. Additionally, these hydrangeas have been collected from both domestic and foreign locations and mountain temples. As for Taejongdae Park, it’s…
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Tongdosa Temple Changnyeong Propagation Center – 통도사 창녕포교당 (Changnyeong, Gyeongsangnam-do)
Temple History The Tongdosa Temple Changnyeong Propagation Center is located in the eastern part of Changnyeong, Gyeongsangnam-do. It’s believed that the propagation center is located on the site of the former Inwangsa Temple, which was a prominent temple that existed during the Silla Dynasty (57 B.C. – 935 A.D.). As for the current Tongdosa Temple Changnyeong Propagation Center and its founding, a plaque hanging above the door to an auxiliary building has an inscription on it that reads “Buchal Tongdosa Bonmalsa Changnyeong Pogyo-dang Creation Merit.” This inscription also details how on July 7, 1939, the monk Chundam founded the missionary temple with the goal of propagating the “Inwang-gyeong,” which is…
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Sejinam Hermitage – 셰진암 (Geoje,Gyeongsangnam-do)
Hermitage History Sejinam Hermitage is located in western Geoje, Gyeongsangnam-do in the southern foothills of Mt. Dongsan (141.7 m), which is where Oksangeum-seong Fortress is located. It’s also situated right next to the Bangokseowon Confucian Academy. It’s believed that Sejinam Hermitage was reconstructed in 1902. In addition, Japanese records indicate that “during the Daehan Empire [1897–1910], there was an ancient temple in Geoje-myeon.” It’s believed that this is a reference to Sejinam Hermitage. The hermitage was designated as one of the 982 traditional temples on June 10, 1988. As such, it was designated as Traditional Temple #14, which was the first traditional temple in Geoje. Throughout the years, the hermitage…
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Yeonggaksa Temple – 영각사 (Hamyang, Gyeongsangnam-do)
Temple History Yeonggaksa Temple is located in northern Hamyang, Gyeongsangnam-do in the southern foothills of Mt. Namdeokyusan (1,507.4 m). The temple was first founded in 877 A.D. by the monk Simgwang-seonsa. Simgwang-seonsa was a disciple of Muyeom-guksa (801-888 A.D.), who was the founder of the Seongjusan Sect, which was part of the “Nine Mountain Schools,” or “Gusan” in Korean. During the early part of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), Yeonggaksa Temple fell into disrepair, but it was later rebuilt in 1449 by the monk Wongyeong-seonsa. After this, the temple underwent numerous restorations. Then in 1834, a fire completely destroyed the temple grounds except for the Hwaeom-jeon Hall. Over fifty years later,…
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Yeonsusa Temple – 연수사 (Geochang, Gyeongsangnam-do)
Temple History Yeonsusa Temple is located to the west of Mt. Gamaksan (952.6 m) in southern Geochang, Gyeongsangnam-do. There are a couple of legends connected to the founding of the temple. One legend states that Yeonsusa Temple was first founded in 802 A.D. by the monk Gamak-josa. Gamak-josa prepared large logs for the temple’s rafters on the southern side of the temple site. However, the logs mysteriously disappeared one night, and they were later discovered at the present-day location of the temple’s Daeung-jeon Hall. Believing this to be a sign, Gamak-josa decided to construct the temple at its current site. Yet another legend suggests that Gamak-josa originally built the temple…
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Chongmyeongsa Temple – 총명사 (Geoje, Gyeongsangnam-do)
Temple History Chongmyeongsa Temple is located in the western foothills of Mt. Mangsan (215.8 m) in eastern Geoje, Gyeongsangnam-do. Chongmyeongsa Temple was first founded in 1913, but it was later moved during the Japanese Colonial Period (1910-45) due to the construction of a Shinto shrine. Displaced, it was later relocated to the southwest of Jangseung Village. The temple was moved, once more, to its current location following the establishment of the “Geoje Island Aegwangwon Social Welfare Foundation.” As a result, the temple now overlooks the Jangseung Port from the east. In the early 1970s, with the establishment of a shipyard, more Buddhist devotees started to visit Chongmyeongsa Temple. In 1979,…