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Gwaneumsa Temple – 관음사 (Jung-gu, Ulsan)
Temple History Gwaneumsa Temple in Jung-gu, Ulsan, which shouldn’t be confused with the dozens of other temples with the exact same name in Korea, is located in central Ulsan in Taehwa Neighborhood Park. Gwaneumsa Temple is believed to have been established by the female devotee Nam-bosal during the late Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910). Nam-bosal, after having a prophetic dream, decided to build the temple and name it Monghwa Temple. In 1927, the monk Seokgak also had a dream, one where he encountered Gwanseeum-bosal (The Bodhisattva of Compassion). After having this dream, the monk decided to reconstruct the main hall of the temple and call the temple Gwaneumsa Temple. Later, and around…
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Gwaneumsa Temple – 관음사 (Dong-gu, Daegu)
Temple History Gwaneumsa Temple in Dong-gu, Daegu shouldn’t be confused with the numerous other temples in Korea with the same name, especially the nearby Gwaneumsa Temple in Jung-gu. This Gwaneumsa Temple is situated in the northern foothills of Mt. Hyangsan (160.1 m). Both temples are named for the Bodhisattva of Compassion, Gwanseeum-bosal. According to the “Palgongsan Dodong Naggasan Gwaneumsa Temple Monument Inscription,” Gwaneumsa Temple was first founded in 670 A.D. by the famed monk Uisang-daesa (625-702 A.D.). It would later be rebuilt by the monk Simji in the early 9th century. After this, very little is known about the temple’s history outside Jingak-guksa (1178-1234) and his writings from the Goryeo…
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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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Kwanumsa Temple – 관음사 (Kaesong, Hwanghaebuk-to North Korea)
Temple History Kwanumsa Temple [Gwaneumsa Temple] is located on Mt. Chonmasan near Kaesong, North Korea. The temple is named after Kwanum, or Gwanseeum-bosal (The Bodhisattva of Compassion). And it should be noted that some of the spelling in this post will be based on North Korean spelling. This small temple is located between two mountains in a valley. The two mountains are Mt. Chonmasan (757 m) and Mt. Songgosan; and at the back of the valley, you’ll find Pakyon Falls. Kwanumsa Temple was first established in 970 A.D. by the monk Beopin, when he placed two marble statues of Gwanseeum-bosal inside a cave behind the temple. As for the temple,…
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Gwaneumsa Temple – 관음사 (Gokseong, Jeollanam-do)
Temple History Gwaneumsa Temple in Gokseong, Jeollanam-do, not to be confused with the Gwaneumsa Temple on Jeju-do, is one of the more obscure major temples that you’ll find in Korea. Gwaneumsa Temple is named after the Bodhisattva of Compassion, Gwanseeum-bosal, and it’s located on the western foot of Mt. Seongdeoksan (646.6 m), which is named after a girl related to the origins of the temple (more on that soon). Gwaneumsa Temple is a sub-temple of the famed Hwaeomsa Temple of Gurye, Jeollanam-do. Purportedly, Gwaneumsa Temple was founded in 300 A.D. This would make it one of the oldest temples on the Korean peninsula. Interestingly, and if true, the existence of…
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Gwaneumsa Temple – 관음사 (Jeju City, Jeju-do)
Temple History Gwaneumsa Temple, which is located in Jeju City, Jeju-do Island, is named after the Bodhisattva of Compassion, Gwanseeum-bosal. A somewhat common name for a temple in Korea, Gwaneumsa Temple is located on the northeast side of Mt. Hallasan (1947.06 m). And the area around Mt. Hallasan is a National Park. In fact, alongside Mt. Jirisan (1915 m) and Mt. Seoraksan (1708 m), Mt. Hallasan is considered one of the three major mountains in South Korea. It’s believed that Gwaneumsa Temple dates back to sometime during the Tamna State – 탐라국 (耽羅國) (?-1404) rule over Jeju-do Island, during the Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392). More specifically, and according to locals, Gwaneumsa…