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Naksansa Temple – 낙산사 (Yangyang, Gangwon-do)
Temple History Naksansa Temple is located in Yangyang, Gangwon-do. The name of the temple, Naksansa Temple, is an abbreviation of “Botarakgasan.” The name “Naksan,” is in reference to Mt. Potalaka, which is a mythical mountain located in the seas south of India. It’s also believed to be where Gwanseeum-bosal (The Bodhisattva of Compassion in English, or Avalokiteśvara in Sanskrit) lives. Mt. Potalaka means “Brilliance,” in English. Gwanseeum-bosal is said to live on an island surrounded by the sea alongside guardian dragons under Mt. Potalaka. The temple was first founded in 671 A.D. by Uisang-daesa (625-702 A.D.) upon his return from Tang China. Uisang-daesa was an ambassador to Tang China for…
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Yaksa-jeon – The Hall of Yaksa-bul: 약사전
Introduction Another hall that you might find at a Korean Buddhist temple is the Yaksa-jeon Hall. This type of hall is dedicated to Yaksayeorae-bul, who in Korean Buddhism is the Medicine Buddha, and the Buddha of the Eastern Paradise. Yaksa-jeon Design Yaksayeorae-bul lives in the Eastern Paradise, which is called “Jeongyuri,” in Korean. When Yaksayeorae-bul was in human form, he made twelve vows to free sentient beings from sickness and disease. Not only did this mean their physical well-being, but this also meant the nourishment of their spiritual well-being, as well. This aid would hopefully help people towards liberation. So not only does Yaksayeorae-bul provide relief from disease, suffering, and…
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Woljeongsa Temple – 월정사 (Pyeongchang, Gangwon-do)
Temple History Woljeongsa Temple, which is located in Odaesan National Park in Pyeongchang, Gangwon-do, means “Moon Vitality Temple,” in English. The temple was first founded by the famed monk Jajang-yulsa (590-658 A.D.) in 643 A.D. Mt. Odaesan (1563 m) is a transliteration of the Chinese characters for Mt. Wutai-shan, which is where Jajang-yulsa met the Bodhisattva of Wisdom, Munsu-bosal. But before getting too far ahead of ourselves, and like so many other temples in Korea, Woljeongsa Temple has quite the creation myth surrounding it. In 636 A.D., and according to the Samguk Yusa (Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms, circa the 1280s), Jajang-yulsa traveled to Tang China to study Buddhism. Jajang-yulsa…
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Daejeokgwang-jeon – The Hall of Ultimate Silence and Light: 대적광전
Daejeokgwang-jeon Design A type of shrine hall that you can find at a Korean Buddhist temple is dedicated to Birojana-bul (The Buddha of Cosmic Energy). Birojana-bul is also commonly referred to as Biro-bul. The name of the hall that Birojana-bul occupies is called the Daejeokgwang-jeon Hall. In English, this translates as “The Great Luminosity Hall,” in English. The reason why this hall has such a name is that Bironjana-bul spreads the light of Buddhist Truth in every direction. He is also the Buddha that embodies the Wisdom of the Universal Law. Expanding on this, the name Birojana-bul literally means “Great Sun Buddha,” in English. The idea behind this is the Birojana-bul…
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Sinheungsa Temple – 신흥사 (Sokcho, Gangwon-do)
Temple History Sinheungsa Temple, which is located in Sokcho, Gangwon-do, is also situated, arguably, in Korea’s most beautiful national park: Seoraksan National Park. Sinheungsa Temple, in English, means “Spirit Arising Temple.” Sinheungsa Temple is believed to have been first built by the famed monk Jajang-yulsa (590-658 A.D.). Originally, the temple was called Hyangseongsa Temple. However, with that being said, there is some dispute as to when it was first built by Jajang-yulsa. It’s been argued that it was first built in 637 A.D. before the famed monk left to study in Tang China. And it’s also been argued that Sinheungsa Temple was built upon Jajang-yulsa’s return to the Korean peninsula…
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Bomunsa Temple – 보문사 (Seogwipo, Jeju-do)
Temple Layout On the south-west side of Jeju-do Island, and in the shadows of Mt. Sanbangsan and Sanbanggulsa Temple, is Bomunsa Temple. In fact, in order to get to Sanbanggulsa Temple, you’ll first need to pass through the Bomunsa Temple grounds. Bomunsa Temple has a commanding view of the South Sea and the southwestern coastline of Jeju-do Island. You first approach Bomunsa Temple past a crowded parking lot and up a set of wide stone stairs. Bomunsa Temple, much like the famed mountain that it rests upon, is frequented by busloads of visitors. The first thing to greet you inside the temple courtyard is the stone statue dedicated to Gwanseeum-bosal…
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Sanbanggulsa Temple – 산방굴사 (Seogwipo, Jeju-do)
Temple History Sanbanggulsa Temple, which is located on Mt. Sanbangsan (395.2 m) on Jeju-do Island, means “Sanbang Cave Temple,” in English. And Sanbang, in English, means “Mountain Room,” which is a reference to the cave on the southern side of Mt. Sanbangsan. The mountain cave is five metres in height and acts as the grotto for which Sanbanggulsa Temple is located. Mt. Sanbangsan was formed as a result of violent volcanic activity between 700,000 to 800,000 years ago. Mt. Sanbangsan is a large lava dome that cooled over time. And the cliffs on the southern side of the mountain are marked with unique formations like weathered pitting. Mt. Sanbangsan in…
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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…