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Baengnyeonsa Temple – 백련사 (Gangjin, Jeollanam-do)
Temple History Baengnyeonsa Temple is located in the southern foothills of Mt. Mandeoksan (412.1 m) in Gangjin, Jeollanam-do. And the temple looks out beautifully towards the bay and Wando off in the distance. The name of the temple means “White Lotus Temple” in English, and it’s believed to have first been constructed in 839 A.D. by Muyeom-guksa (801-888 A.D.). The original name of the temple, however, was Mandeoksa Temple. Gradually the temple fell into disrepair caused by the efforts of Japanese pirates that were pillaging the coastal areas throughout the Korean Peninsula. The temple was eventually reconstructed in 1170 by the monk Yose. The temple was further expanded and reconstructed…
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Chiljangsa Temple – 칠장사 (Anseong, Gyeonggi-do)
Temple History Chiljangsa Temple is located in Anseong, Gyeonggi-do in a valley between Mt. Chiljangsan (492.1 m) and Mt. Jebiwolsan (294.4 m). “Chil” in the name of the temple means “seven” in English, which is an auspicious number in traditional Korean culture and Buddhism. As for “jang,” it’s a Chinese character that means “army general” in English. “Jang” also has the meaning of a spiritual guardian that protects people from bad fortune, as well. So the name of the temple, in English, means “Seven Army Generals Temple.” All of this, of course, relates to a temple legend at Chiljangsa Temple (more on that soon). Chiljangsa Temple is said to have…
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Biroam Hermitage – 비로암 (Yangsan, Gyeongsangnam-do)
Hermitage History Biroam Hermitage is located on the Tongdosa Temple grounds in Yangsan, Gyeongsangnam-do in the southern foothills of Mt. Yeongchuksan (1,082.2 m) some 500 metres away from the neighbouring Geukrakam Hermitage. Biroam Hemritage is named after the Buddha of Cosmic Energy, Birojana-bul. It’s recorded that Biroam Hermitage was first founded in 1345 by the monk Yeongsuk. The hermitage would be rebuilt in 1578 by the monk Taeheum. Biroam Hermitage was completely destroyed during the Imjin War (1592-1598), and it was later rebuilt and reconstructed several more times. In total, Biroam Hermitage is home to one protected property, which is a Gyeongsangnam-do Tangible Cultural Property. The protected property is the…
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Geukrakam Hermitage – 극락암 (Yangsan, Gyeongsangnam-do)
Hermitage History Geukrakam Hermitage is located on the Tongdosa Temple grounds in Yangsan, Gyeongsangnam-do in the foothills of Mt. Yeongchuksan (1082.2 m). The name of the hermitage is closely associated with Amita-bul (The Buddha of the Western Paradise), who typically resides inside a Geukrak-jeon Hall at a temple or hermitage. In English, “Geukrak” means “Ultimate Bliss” for the Western Paradise that Amita-bul resides. Geukrakam Hermitage was first founded in 1344. From its creation to the late Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), very little of the hermitage’s history is known. The only thing that is recorded about the hermitage is that it was reconstructed by the monk Cheolhong in 1758. More recently, and…
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Colonial Korea – Korean Buddhism from 1876 – 1910
Introduction The modern relationship found between Japanese and Korean Buddhism can be divided into two distinct time periods. The two time periods are from 1876-1910 and 1910-1945. For the purposes of this post, we’ll primarily be focusing on the first of these two time periods in this relationship. This time period, from 1876-1910, was first established when a Japanese Buddhist branch temple was built in Busan in 1877, which was one year after Japan forcibly opened Korea through the Japan–Korea Treaty of 1876. This pre-colonial period ended some three and a half decades later in 1910 when Japan annexed Korea and promulgated the Temple Ordinance (jisatsu rei) in 1911. Rather…
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Jajangam Hermitage – 자장암 (Yangsan, Gyeongsangnam-do)
Hermitage History Jajangam Hermitage is located on the Tongdosa Temple grounds in Yangsan, Gyeongsangnam-do in the foothills of Mt. Yeongchuksan (1,082.2 m). Jajangam Hermitage, which is named after the founder of Tongdosa Temple, Jajang-yulsa (590-658 A.D.), predates the construction of Tongdosa Temple, which was built in 646 C.E. It’s believed that Jajangam Hermitage was the staging ground for Tongdosa Temple, and it was originally called Jajang-bang. The hermitage was originally nothing more than a hut that was built beneath a stone rock for the founder of Tongdosa Temple, monk Jajang-yulsa, to worship. Subsequently, Jajang-yulsa’s disciples also worshipped at Jajangam Hermitage, as well. Jajangam Hermitage was one of seven hermitages that…
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Samyeongam Hermitage – 사명암 (Yangsan, Gyeongsangnam-do)
Hermitage History Samyeongam Hermitage is located in Yangsan, Gyeongsangnam-do on the grounds of Tongdosa Temple. In fact, Samyeongam Hermitage is one of 17 hermitages located on the Tongdosa Temple grounds in the foothills of Mt. Yeongchuksan (1,082.2 m). In 1573, two monks named Yigi and Sinbaek, who were admirers of Samyeong-daesa (1544-1610), decided to build a hermitage in his honour. So who was Samyeong-daesa? Samyeong-daesa was born in Miryang, Gyeongsangnam-do in a modest home. Eventually, he would pass the gwageo (civil service examinations) to become a Buddhist monk in 1561. With the outbreak of the Imjin War (1592-98), Samyeong-daesa led an army of 5,000 trained soldier-monks known as the Righteous…
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Colonial Korea – Seokguram Hermitage
Hermitage History Seokguram Hermitage on Mt. Tohamsan in eastern Gyeongju houses the most famous statue in all of Korea. In English, Seokguram Hermitage means “Stone Cave Hermitage.” Not only is it a UNESCO World Heritage Site as of 1995 alongside Bulguksa Temple, it’s also National Treasure #24. Construction on Seokguram Grotto first started in 751 A.D. by Kim Daeseong (700-774 A.D.), who was the chief minister of Silla. The grotto was completed in 774 A.D. by the Silla court shortly after Kim’s death. According to the “Samguk Yusa,” or “Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms” in English, neighbouring Bulguksa Temple and the Seokguram Grotto were built to honor Kim Daeseong’s parents. Seokguram Grotto was…
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Yeojeokam Hermitage – 여적암 (Boeun, Chungcheongbuk-do)
Hermitage History Yeojeokam Hermitage is located in the southern part of Songnisan National Park in Boeun, Chungcheongbuk. The hermitage is one of 11 hermitages directly associated wtih the famed Beopjusa Temple. The hermitage was founded in 1694 by the monk Yeojeok, who was also known as Gyeongsu. However, based upon the “Multi-Story Stone Pagoda at Yeojeokam Hermitage,” which dates back to some time during either late Unified Silla (668-935 A.D.) or the Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392), the hermitage is probably much older. There’s a rather interesting legend connected to the hermitage and the monk Yeojeok. Purportedly, the hermitage was the richest on the mountain; however, the previous abbots of the hermitage…
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Talgolam Hermitage – 탈골암 (Boeun, Chungcheongbuk-do)
Hermitage History Talgolam Hermitage is one of 11 hermitages directly associated with the famed Beopjusa Temple in Songnisan National Park in Boeun, Chungcheongbuk-do. There are two stories as to how Talgolam Hermitage was first built. The first story is related to the monk Jinpyo-yulsa (fl. 8th century). Purportedly, Jinpyo called his disciples to him at Talgolam Hermitage. Here, he taught them how to escape Samsara (the endless cycle of rebirth). The second story is related to the time of King Talhae of Silla (57 – 80 A.D.), when the founder of the Gyeongju Kim Clan, Gim Alji (65 – ?), was lamenting his appearance. Hearing that there was good mineral…