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Songunsa Temple – 송운사 (Ulju-gun, Ulsan)
Temple History Songunsa Temple is located in the eastern foothills of Mt. Sinbulsan (1,159.3m) in Ulju-gun, Ulsan. More specifically, Songunsa Temple is located in the northern part of the Amethyst Cave Land. Songunsa Temple is a modern temple that first started to be constructed in 2010. Originally, the temple was an amethyst cave. In fact, Songunsa Temple is the only temple in Korea built within a former amethyst mining cave. According to the abbot of the temple, Hwayong, the cave has existed since Japanese Colonial Rule (1910-45). Later, the caves were filled-in and abandoned. The site had been abandoned for around 40 years. A unique feature to Songunsa Temple, as…
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Munbinjeongsa Temple – 문빈정사 (Dong-gu, Gwangju)
Temple History Munbinjeongsa Temple is located within the boundaries of Mudeungsan National Park. More specifically, Munbinjeongsa Temple is located in the western foothills of Mt. Mudeungsan (1,186.8 m) in Dong-gu, Gwangju. In 1959, Jang Munbin (1893-1987), who was originally from Pyongyang, demolished all of the structures that were being used as private retreats by lay devotees. The site was purportedly the former location of Amitabulam Hermitage on Mt. Mudeungsan. It was here that he decided to build Munbinjeongsa Temple. Originally, the temple was registered as a Taego-jong Order temple in 1969. In 1978, the abbot Seoksan then registered the temple as a Jogye-jong Order temple. The abbot Seoksan was originally…
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Wonhyosa Temple – 원효사 (Buk-gu, Gwangju)
Temple History Wonhyosa Temple in Buk-gu, Gwangju is located to the northwest of Mt. Mudeungsan (1,186 m), and it looks out towards Wonhyo-bong Peak (561 m). The temple is said to have been first founded by Wonhyo-daesa (617-686 A.D.); however, the exact date of the founding of the temple is unknown. According to the “Wonhyoam Reconstruction Record,” which can be found in the “Historical Materials of Joseon Temples” that was published in 1847, Wonhyo-daesa built a small hermitage in a scenic location where the mountains were purple and the water clear. He named this hermitage Wonhyoam Hermitage. It’s said to have been founded during the reign of King Jijeung of…
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Haedong Seongchuisa Temple – 해동성취사 (Gijang-gun, Busan)
Temple History Haedong Seongchuisa Temple is located in Gijang-gun, Busan near the East Sea. And while it has a similar name to Haedong Yonggungsa Temple, the sea and haedong are pretty much all that these two temples have in common. With a large golf course to the rear and the views of the East Sea out in front, Haedong Seongchuisa Temple was first built in 2000. The temple is home to a handful of shrine halls, and the current abbot, Uam, completed training in Beomeum Beompae (traditional Buddhist chant and song), which is recognized as Intangible Cultural Heritage #9. Abbot Uam established a Beomeum Beompae university at the temple. The…
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Hyewonjeongsa Temple – 혜원정사 (Yeonje-gu, Busan)
Temple History Hyewonjeongsa Temple is located in Yeonje-gu, Busan to the northwest of Mt. Baesan (256.3 m). Hyewonjeongsa Temple was first founded in 1925 during Japanese Colonial Rule (1910-1945). Purportedly, an old man named Kim Deokman, who lived in the nearby area, came to this part of Busan to collect firewood. As he was collecting firewood, he stumbled upon an old temple site. Together with his wife, Kim Sunim, they decided to establish a small temple on the old temple site. With their family assets, the couple decided to create a golden Buddha statue. They also built a three-room wooden structure with a main hall. They lived there together for…
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Naewonam Hermitage – 내원암 (Geumjeong-gu, Busan)
Hermitage History Naewonam Hermitage is located on the Beomeosa Temple grounds in Geumjeong-gu, Busan. It’s unclear when the hermitage was first founded; however, according to historical records, it appears to have been reconstructed in 1693 by the monk Shinju. There were several renovations conducted at the hermitage during the 1800s. Also, historical records indicate the presence of the “Seated Stone Bodhisattva Statue of Naewonam Hermitage, Beomeosa Temple,” which is a Cultural Heritage Materials of Busan Metropolitan City, at this time. It’s believed that this statue was created during the late Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910). In 1900, the famed monk Gyeongheo (1849–1912) established a meditation hall (Seonwon) at Beomeosa Temple. And in…
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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…