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Living History – Gary and Mary Mintier (Peace Corps – 1969)
One of the great things about running a website about Korean Buddhist temples is that you get to meet a lot of amazing people. And a lot of these amazing people have varying backgrounds, interests, and insights. Rather amazingly, some of these people first visited Korea in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. Here are their stories! Q1: Where are you originally from? Introduce yourself a little. A: I grew up in Ohio and graduated from Ohio University. I married Mary Ann Llewellyn from New Jersey. Q2: When and why did you first come to Korea? A: We joined the Peace Corps in October, 1968, and we went to Korea in…
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Baekunam Hermitage – 백운암 (Chungju, Chungcheongbuk-do)
Hermitage History Baekunam Hermitage, which means “White Cloud Hermitage” in English, is located in northern Chungju, Chungcheongbuk-do in the foothills of Mt. Bilmisan (352.2 m). In fact, the location of the hermitage is rather remote, and it’s situated with mountains to the west and agricultural fields to the east. It’s believed that Baekunam Hermitage was first founded in 1886 by a female shaman named Yun, who was also known as Lord of Jillyeong by the government of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910). In fact, Yun was known as a royal shaman. There’s a rather interesting hermitage legend connecting shamans and the royal court. In 1882, Queen Min (1851-1895), who was also…
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Living History – Frank Concilus (Peace Corps – 1966)
One of the great things about running a website about Korean Buddhist temples is that you get to meet a lot of amazing people. And a lot of these amazing people have varying backgrounds, interests, and insights. Rather amazingly, some of these people first visited Korea in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. Here is Frank’s story: Q1: Where are you originally from? Introduce yourself a little. A: I’m originally from Pittsburgh but after college I joined the Peace Corps and came to Korea in 1966 Q2: When and why did you first come to Korea? A: 1966 Peace Corps Q3: When you first came to Korea what city did you…
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Gosansa Temple – 고산사 (Jecheon, Chungcheongbuk-do)
Temple History Gosansa Temple in Jecheon, Chungcheongbuk-do, which shouldn’t be confused with the number of temples throughout Korea with the same name, is located to the north of Mt. Darangsan (591.2 m). It’s believed by some that Gosansa Temple was first built in 879 A.D. by the famed monk Doseon-guksa (827-898 A.D.). However, there’s not a lot of concrete information to support this claim. Another claim, at least according to the “Gosansa Jungsugi,” which was written in 1920, states that Gosansa Temple was rebuilt in 1096 by Hyeso-guksa. However, and through archaelogical work conducted at the temple, tiles, earthenware, and porcelain pieces were collected. It was discovered that this collection…
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Living History – Bill and Betty Krause (School – 1966, 1968)
One of the great things about running a website about Korean Buddhist temples is that you get to meet a lot of amazing people. And a lot of these amazing people have varying backgrounds, interests, and insights. Rather amazingly, some of these people first visited Korea in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. Here are their stories! Q1: Where are you originally from? Introduce yourself a little. A: I was born in Freeport, TX. I moved every year of my life around the U.S. Bill was born in Okinawa. He went to Korea in 1966. Q2: When and why did you first come to Korea? A: I was 12 when we…
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Danhosa Temple – 단호사 (Chungju, Chungcheongbuk-do)
Temple History Danhosa Temple is located in the southeastern part of the city of Chungju, Chungcheongbuk-do near agricultural fields and an elementary school. The exact date of the temple’s founding is unknown; however, it was repaired during the reign of King Sukjong of Joseon (r. 1674-1720) during the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910). At that time, it was known as Yaksa Temple, after the Buddha of Medicine, Yaksayeorae-bul. Eventually, the temple would come to be known as Danhosa Temple in 1954. Additionally, Danhosa Temple belongs to the Taego-jong Order, which is the second largest Buddhist Order in Korea next to the Jogye-jong Order. Danhosa Temple is home to a single Korean Treasure,…
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Living History – Fred Underwood (The Underwood Family – 1957)
One of the great things about running a website about Korean Buddhist temples is that you get to meet a lot of amazing people. And a lot of these amazing people have varying backgrounds, interests, and insights. Rather amazingly, some of these people first visited Korea in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. Here are their stories! Q1: Where are you originally from? Introduce yourself a little. A: I was born in Brooklyn, NY, but my family is from Korea, my father born in Seoul, my mother born in Pyongyang. The Underwoods have lived in Seoul since 1885 and family members of three generations are buried at Yanghwajin cemetery [Yanghwajin Foreign…
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Seokjongsa Temple – 석종사 (Chungju, Chungcheongbuk-do)
Temple History Seokjongsa Temple is located in the southeastern part of Chungju, Chungcheongbuk-do in the southern foothills of Mt. Namsan (635.5 m). Originally the land that Seokjongsa Temple now occupies was Jukjangsa Temple. Jukjangsa Temple was first established sometime between Unified Silla (668-935) to early Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392). Until the end of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), Jukjangsa Temple was a popular temple. At the end of the Joseon Dynasty, and already with centuries of anti-Buddhist policies in place by successive Joseon governments and courts, the status of the temple (like all temples in Korea) had been severely weakened. So Reverend Jo Gyeongro of Chungju, Chungcheongbuk-do arrived at the temple during…
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Four Lion Nine-Story Stone Pagoda at Sajabinsinsa Temple Site – 자빈신사지 사사자 구층석탑 (Jecheon, Chungcheongbuk-do)
Pagoda History The “Four Lion Nine-Story Stone Pagoda at Sajabinsinsa Temple Site” is located in the southern foothills of Mt. Malmoesan (688.6 m) and along Dongsan Valley near a river in Jecheon, Chungcheongbuk-do. According to the inscription on the base, the pagoda was first erected in 1022 in the early part of the Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392). Additionally, the pagoda is located on the former Binsinsa-ji Temple Site. The pagoda was originally built to help prevent another invasion by the Khitan. In total, there had already been three invasions that took place in 993 A.D., 1010, and 1018-1019 during the Goryeo–Khitan War. So it’s rather obvious why Goryeo would do anything…
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Colonial Korea – Jikjisa Temple
Temple History Jikjisa Temple, which means “Finger Pointing Temple” in English, sits at the base of Mt. Hwangaksan (1111.3m) in Gimcheon, Gyeongsangbuk-do. The temple is scenically located with quiet forests, towering mountain peaks, and rolling streams. According to temple legend, Jikjisa Temple was built in 418 A.D. by the monk Ado-hwasang. There are three theories as to how the temple got its name. The first states that after first seeing the location, Ado-hwasang pointed to a spot on the mountain and said that a large temple should be built at its base. The second story states that in 936 A.D., Master Neungyeo, while reconstructing the temple, instead of using a ruler…