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Sagulsan Sect – Gulsansa-ji Temple Site (Gangneung, Gangwon-do)
The Sagulsan sect was founded by National Preceptor Beomil (810-889 A.D.) during the reign of King Munseong of Silla (r. 839-857 A.D.). At the time of the Nine Mountain Schools of Seon, the Sagulsan sect, which was located out of Gulsansa Temple in Gangneung, Gangwon-do, was the most prosperous of the nine. Beomil was also known as Pumil, and he received the posthumous title of Tonghyo. Beomil’s family name was Kim, and his mother belonged to the Ji clan. He was born in 810 A.D. after his mother was pregnant for an astounding thirteen months. When he was born, he was said to have a conch-tuft on top of his…
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Simwonsa Temple – 심원사 (Seongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do)
Temple History Simwonsa Temple is located in the northeastern part of Gayasan National Park in Seongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do. In fact, Simwonsa Temple isn’t all that far away from the famed Haeinsa Temple, which is also located in Gayasan National Park. It’s believed that Simwonsa Temple was first founded during Unified Silla (668-935 A.D.) some time in the 8th century. Yi Sung-in, who was also known under the pen-name of Doeun, and who was born in Seongju during the Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392), wrote about the temple in one of his poems entitled “Gimsimwonjeongro.” In this poem, he describes the temple as “The ancient temple, Simwonsa Temple, stands on Mt. Gayasan.” Additionally, and…
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Gimnyongsa Temple – 김룡사 (Mungyeong, Gyeongsangbuk-do)
Temple History Gimnyongsa Temple is located in Mungyeong, Gyeongsangbuk-do to the southeast of Mt. Undalsan (1,103.2 m). The temple was first built in 588 A.D. by the monk Undal-josa. Originally, the temple was named Unbongsa Temple. However, there are several legends associated with the temple, one of which, gives the temple its name. According to this legend, there was a man with the surname Kim that was the local magistrate. Kim committed a crime while in office, so he hid in the mountains under Unbongsa Temple. He would frequently visit the temple to help quell the feelings of regret that he had. During this time, Kim met a young woman.…
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Yeongguksa Temple – 영국사 (Yeongdong, Chungcheongbuk-do)
Temple History Yeongguksa Temple is located in Yeongdong, Chungcheongbuk-do on the eastern slopes of Mt. Cheontaesan (715.2 m). Yeongguksa Temple dates back to the late Silla (57 B.C. – 668 A.D.) or early Unified Silla (668-935 A.D.). One theory states that the temple was first founded during the reign of King Jinpyeong of Silla (r. 579-632 A.D.), while another theory states that it was first constructed during the reign of King Munmu of Silla (r. 661-681 A.D.). Either way, it does seem like that it dates back to around this time period in Korean history. Originally, the mountain where the temple is situated was first called Mt. Jiruksan; however, when…
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Gajisan Sect – Borimsa Temple (Jangheung, Jeollanam-do)
The Gajisan sect was located out of Borimsa Temple in Jangheung, in present-day Jeollanam-do. The sect was first established during the reign of King Heonan of Silla (r. 857-861) by Master Doui. Master Doui’s family name was Wang. Doui’s father dreamed that a white rainbow entered into the sleeping chamber of where his mother was sleeping. His mother also had a dream. Her dream was of a saintly monk sitting down. After these two dreams, Doui’s mother became pregnant. And rather remarkably, which goes against everything we know about biology, Doui’s mother gave birth to him after thirty-nine months of pregnancy. Master Doui would eventually become a monk and be…
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Cheongryeonam Hermitage – 청련암 (Dalseong-gun, Daegu)
Hermitage History Cheongryeonam Hermitage, which means “Blue Lotus Hermitage” in English, is located to the east of the main temple, Namjijangsa Temple, in Dolseong, Daegu. Both the temple and the hermitage are situated to the south of Mt. Choijeongsan (905 m). Like Namjijangsa Temple, Cheongryeonam Hermitage was first constructed in 684 A.D. by the monk Yanggae. Both were built on the behest of King Sinmun of Silla (r. 681-692 A.D.). And like the neighbouring Namjijangsa Temple, Cheongryeonam Hermitage was completely destroyed by the invading Japanese during the Imjin War (1592-1598). In fact, and during the Imjin War, Cheongryeonam Hermitage was used as a training centre for monks that were led…
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Silsangsan Sect – Silsangsa Temple (Namwon, Jeollabuk-do)
The Silsangsan sect was headquartered out of Silsangsa Temple, or “True Nature Temple” in English, in Namwon in present-day Jeollabuk-do in the northern part of the famed Jirisan National Park. The founding patriarch of the Silsangsan sect was Hongcheok-guksa (fl. 830 A.D.), who built Silsangsa Temple to help spread the teachings of Seon Buddhism. Hongcheok-guksa learned under Zhizang (735-814 A.D.). The sect was first founded in 828 A.D. Hongcheok-guksa was posthumously named Jeunggak. Both Hongcheok-guksa’s stupa and stele can be found to this day on the temple grounds of Silsangsa Temple. In the early 800’s, Hongcheok traveled to Tang China (618–690, 705–907 A.D.). He did this to help further his…
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Yongjangsa-ji Temple Site – 용장사지 (Gyeongju)
Temple Site History Yongjangsa-ji Temple Site is located up the Yongjanggol Valley in Gyeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do. The valley, which is named after the former temple, is the longest and deepest of the valleys on Mt. Namsan. The exact date of the temple is unknown. However, and because of archaeological evidence, we know that Yongjangsa Temple must have existed during the early Unified Silla (668-935 A.D.). We also know that it existed until at least the 15th century because it was where the scholar and poet Kim Si-seup (1435-1493) lived and wrote the Geumo Sinhwa, or “The New Stories of the Golden Turtle” in English. As for Kim Si-seup, he was one…
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Other Early Gyo Sects
In addition to the five main Gyo sects that thrived during the Three Kingdoms Period in Korea (18 B.C. – 660 A.D.), there were lesser known Gyo sects that were also established at this time. And while they might have been less popular than the other five major Gyo sects, they survived up until the end of the Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392). These sects are: 1. Chongji-jong (Esoteric Sect) Jineon, which is also known as Chongji-jong, is a form of Esoteric Buddhism (Vajrayana). The primary text of this sect were the Dharanis. The Dharanis are Buddhist chants, incantations, and/or recitations. And they are Sanskrit or Pali phrases. These phrases can, and…
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Biroam Hermitage – 비로암 (Dong-gu, Daegu)
Hermitage History Biroam Hermitage is located on the famous Donghwasa Temple grounds on Mt. Palgongsan (1193 m) in Dong-gu, Daegu. Biroam Hermitage is the closest of the hermitages directly associated with Donghwasa Temple on the main temple grounds. Biroam Hermitage was first founded in 863 A.D. during Later Silla (668 – 935 A.D.). The Donghwasa Historical Chronicles – 동화사사적기, which is a historical document that describes the history of Donghwasa Temple, has an entry about Biroam Hermitage. Interestingly, the entry describes Biroam Hermitage as Biro-jeon Hall. The Daejeokgwang-jeon Hall, which is the main hall at Biroam Hermitage, is believed to have been built in the late 18th century. What makes…