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Chilseongsa Temple – 칠성사 (Hadong, Gyeongsangnam-do)
Temple History Chilseongsa Temple is located to the west of Chilseong-bong Peak (905.8 m) in northern Hadong, Gyeongsangnam-do. Originally, the temple was known as Geumbongam Hermitage, or “Golden Phoenix Hermitage” in English, when it was rebuilt in 2004. The name of the hermitage then changed to Geumbongsa Temple in 2009 with the increase in prominence of the temple. Finally, the temple was renamed as Chilseongsa Temple, or “Seven Stars Temple” in English, on October 8th, 2014. Chilseongsa Temple is a temple that was restored and rebuilt in 2004 by the monk Danje. Danje was a disciple of Hyobong, who was a monk that served as the Supreme Patriarch of the…
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Seongamsa Temple – 성암사 (Nam-gu, Busan)
Temple History Seongamsa Temple is located on the southern slopes of Mt. Hwangnyeongsan (427m) in Nam-gu, Busan. Because of its location on Mt. Hwangnyeongsan, it’s said to resemble a turtle laying eggs. This is thought to symbolize wealth and prosperity. As a result, Seongamsa Temple is thought to have an auspicious location. According to oral tradition, the temple was first founded in the late Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392), and it once oversaw 13 hermitages. However, no detailed historical records about the temple have survived. There are various legends about the modern origin of the temple. One tells of a lay practitioner, in 1910, who built a hermitage and then enshrined a…
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Guryongsa Temple – 구룡사 (Buk-gu, Busan)
Temple History Guryongsa Temple, which means “Nine Dragons Temple” in English, is located in Buk-gu, Busan with the Nakdong River not too far off to the west. It shouldn’t be confused with the more famous Guryongsa Temple in Wonju, Gangwon-do. It’s believed that the temple was first established in 680 A.D. by the famed monk Uisang-daesa (625-702 A.D.). Guryongsa Temple was originally named Seonhyusa Temple because of its beautiful location. As a result, it was believed that the temple was made in a place where Taoist hermits would want to stop and rest. Eventually, the temple would be renamed Guryongsa Temple. As for the name and how the temple came…
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Songgyesa Temple – 송계사 (Geochang, Gyeongsangnam-do)
Temple History Songgyesa Temple is located in the eastern foothills of Mt. Deogyusan (1,614.2 m) in northern Geochang, Gyeongsangnam-do. Songgyesa Temple means “Pine Stream Temple” in English. It’s believed that the temple was first founded by the monks Wonhyho-daesa (617-686 A.D.) and Uisang-daesa (625-702 A.D.) in 652 A.D. The famed monks first built Yeongchwisa Temple in the area. This was subsequently followed by the building of five hermitages. One of these hermitages was Songgyeam Hermitage. During the Imjin War (1592-98), Yeongchwisa Temple and all five of the hermitages were burned down and destroyed. However, during the reign of King Sukjong of Joseon (r. 1674-1720), the monk Jinmyeong would only rebuild…
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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…