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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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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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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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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…
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Sanghwanam Hermitage – 상환암 (Boeun, Chungcheongbuk-do
Hermitage History Sanghwanam Hermitage is one of 11 hermitages directly associated with Beopjusa Temple in Boeun, Chungcheongbuk-do. Sanghwanam Hermitage is located to the east of Taebong (549.9 m) on Mt. Songnisan (1058 m). According to the “Boeungun-ji,” Sanghwanam Hermitage is believed to have first been built in 720 A.D.; however, the founder of the hermitage is unknown. Later, and in 1391, Lee Seong-gye (1335-1408), who would become the founder and first ruler of the Joseon Dynasty, King Taejo of Joseon (r. 1392-1398), prayed for one hundred days at Sanghwanam Hermitage before ascending the throne. Another interesting feature about the hermitage is whether it was called Sanghwanam Hermitage since it was…
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Bokcheonam Hermitage – 복천암 (Boeun, Chungcheongbuk-do)
Hermitage History Bokcheonam Hermitage, which is located in Boeun, Chungcheongbuk-do on the Beopjusa Temple grounds, was first built in 720 A.D. during Unified Silla (668-935 A.D.). It’s the oldest among the hermitages directly associated with Beopjusa Temple on Mt. Songnisan. The hermitage has undergone several reconstructions throughout the Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392) and the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910). In 1449, the hermitage was renovated by the monk Sinmi (1403-1480) in 1464. King Sejo of Joseon (r. 1455-1468), who considered Sinmi to be his teacher, visited Bokcheonam Hermitage. The reason for this is that King Sejo of Joseon was known to have a skin ailment, and Bokcheonam Hermitage was known for its curative…
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Banyasa Temple – 반야사 (Yeongdong, Chungcheongbuk-do)
Temple History Banyasa Temple is located in northeastern Yeongdong, Chungcheongbuk-do up a long valley next to Mt. Baekhwasan (933.3 m). This mountain is part of the Baekdu-daegan Mountain Range. Water flows out from Mt. Baekhwasan and forms the beautiful Gusucheon Stream. And where the stream flows past Banyasa Temple, it forms an “S-shape” similar to that of a Taeguk. The name of the temple, Banyasa Temple, means “Wisdom Temple” in English, as the name is a reference to Prajna in Sanskrit. As for the founding of the temple, there are a couple stories as to when it was first created. One story relates that the temple was first established by…
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Colonial Korea – Beopjusa Temple
Temple History Beopjusa Temple is situated in Songnisan National Park to the north-east of Boeun-gun, Chungcheongbuk-do. Beopjusa Temple means, “Dharma Residence Temple” in English. According to the Dongguk-yeoji-seungnam, or the “Survey of the Geography of Korea” in English, Beopjusa Temple was first founded in 553 A.D. by the monk Uisin. After traveling to India to learn more about Buddhism, Uisan returned to the Korean Peninsula with Indian Buddhist scriptures. Carrying these scriptures on a white donkey, he housed these texts at the temple he was to build: Beopjusa Temple. According to historical documents, the famed monk Jinpyo (8th century) returned to the Mt. Songnisan area and marked a location where it was…