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Eunjeoksa Temple – 은적사 (Nam-gu, Daegu)
Temple History Eunjeoksa Temple is located in Nam-gu, Daegu to the northeast of Mt. Apsan (658.7 m). Eunjeoksa Temple means “Hidden Traces Temple” in English, and it’s related to the founding of the temple. At the end of Unified Silla (668-935 A.D.), and during the Later Three Kingdoms (890s-936 A.D.), King Gyeon Hwon of Later Baekje (r. 892-935 A.D.) decided to invade Silla. In response, King Gyeongae of Silla (r. 924-927 A.D.) requested the military aid of Wang Geon, who would eventually go on to become King Taejo of Goryeo (918-943 A.D.). Wang Geon would lead his troops to Daegu. However, while advancing towards Donghwasa Temple on Mt. Palgongsan, Wang…
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Seobongsa Temple – 서봉사 (Nam-gu, Daegu)
Temple History Seobongsa Temple is located in Nam-gu, Daegu, and it belongs to the Jogye-jong Buddhist Order. Some say that the temple was first founded in 1903; however, the exact date is unknown. According to temple records, these records state that Seobongsa Temple was founded on July 15, 1914. But this, too, can’t be definitively confirmed. It’s been estimated by others that Seobongsa Temple was first founded in 1920 as a small hermitage. The founder of Seobongsa Temple was a laywoman named Kim Chohyang. Purportedly, she was a former gisaeng (female entertainer). She established Seobongam Hermitage (the former name of the temple) in an act to be remembered after she…
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Anilsa Temple – 안일사 (Nam-gu, Daegu)
Temple History Anilsa Temple, which means “Peace and Ease Temple” in English, is located to the north of Mt. Apsan (658.7m) in Nam-gu, Daegu. As for how the temple got its name, it’s believed that King Taejo of Goryeo (r. 918 – 943 A.D.) suffered a crushing defeat against King Gyeon Hwon of Later Baekje (r. 892-935 A.D.) at the Battle of Gongsan. Initially, King Taejo hid at the neighbouring Eunjiksa Temple. Restless, he later travelled to Anilsa Temple, which is surrounded by rock formations that appear like folding screens. This defensive position gave King Taejo peace of mind, so he was finally able to relax. Even today, about 500…
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Gwaneumsa Temple – 관음사 (Dong-gu, Daegu)
Temple History Gwaneumsa Temple in Dong-gu, Daegu shouldn’t be confused with the numerous other temples in Korea with the same name, especially the nearby Gwaneumsa Temple in Jung-gu. This Gwaneumsa Temple is situated in the northern foothills of Mt. Hyangsan (160.1 m). Both temples are named for the Bodhisattva of Compassion, Gwanseeum-bosal. According to the “Palgongsan Dodong Naggasan Gwaneumsa Temple Monument Inscription,” Gwaneumsa Temple was first founded in 670 A.D. by the famed monk Uisang-daesa (625-702 A.D.). It would later be rebuilt by the monk Simji in the early 9th century. After this, very little is known about the temple’s history outside Jingak-guksa (1178-1234) and his writings from the Goryeo…
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Gwaneumsa Temple – 관음사 (Jung-gu, Daegu)
Temple History Gwaneumsa Temple is located in central Daegu in Jung-gu. Gwaneumsa Temple is one of only four temples still in existence in Korea that was built by the Japanese during Japanese Colonial Rule (1910-45). Other Japanese-style temples include the former Seogyeongsa Temple in Gyeongju, Dongguksa Temple in Gunsan, Jeollabuk-do, and the former Dongbongwonsa Temple in Mokpo, Jeollanam-do. Gwaneumsa Temple was first founded in 1916 by a Japanese monk. The temple was built by the Oriental Development Company for the Japanese residents of Daegu that included government officials. Originally, the temple was known as Seonnimsa Temple. After Korea’s liberation from Japan in 1945, the temple was classified as “jeoksan,” or…
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Daeyulsa Temple – 대율사 (Gunwi-gun, Daegu)
Temple History Daeyulsa Temple is a modern temple that’s located near farmer’s fields in southern Gunwi-gun, Daegu. Daeyulsa Temple is located to the north of Mt. Palgongsan (1,192.3 m). During Daeyulsa Temple’s initial construction in 1972, the “Stone Standing Buddha in Daeyul-ri, Gunwi” was discovered. The only Korean Treasure located at the compact temple grounds at Daeyulsa Temple is the “Stone Standing Buddha in Daeyul-ri, Gunwi,” which is Korean Treasure #988. This standing image of the Buddha dates back to Unified Silla (668-935 A.D.). It’s believed that there used to a large Buddhist temple in Daeyul-ri Village in Gunwi that housed the “Stone Standing Buddha in Daeyul-ri, Gunwi.” Temple Layout…
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Colonial Korea – Donghwasa Temple
Temple History Donghwasa Temple is located on the southern slopes of Mt. Palgongsan (1193 m) in Dong-gu, Daegu. The name of the temple means “Paulownia Blossom Temple” in English. Originally, the temple was built in 493 A.D. by the monk Geukdal and was named Yugasa Temple. However, it was later rebuilt in 832 A.D. by the monk Simji. The name of the temple refers to a legend around the time of this reconstruction. According to this legend, and during the dead of winter, wild paulownia trees were in bloom all around Donghwasa Temple during the temple’s reconstruction. This was thought of as an auspicious sign. According to the Samguk-yusa, or Memorabilia…
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Templestay – Donghwasa Temple (Dong-gu, Daegu)
Introduction to Temple Donghwasa Temple is located on the southern slopes of Mt. Palgongsan (1193 m) in Dong-gu, Daegu. The name of the temple means “Paulownia Blossom Temple” in English. The temple was first built in 493 A.D. by the monk Geukdal, and it was originally named Yugasa Temple. However, when the temple was rebuilt in 832 A.D., the name of the temple changed to Donghwasa Temple. The re-naming of the temple pertains to a legend, when during the dead of winter, wild paulownia trees were in full bloom all around the temple grounds. This was thought of as an auspicious sign, so the temple was re-named Donghwasa Temple. During…
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Ingaksa Temple – 인각사 (Gunwi-gun, Daegu)
Temple History Ingaksa Temple is located in the southeastern part of Gunwi-gun, Daegu. The temple was first founded in 643 A.D. by the famed monk Wonhyo-daesa (617-686 A.D.). The name of the temple means “Giraffe Horn Temple” in English. More specifically, the temple is located next to the Wicheon River and Mt. Hwasan (828.1 m). Interestingly, people thought that Mt. Hwasan looked like a giraffe. And where Ingaksa Temple is located, people believed that’s where the giraffe’s horn should have been located; and hence, the temple’s name. During the Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392), Ingaksa Temple was further expanded. And as the temple grew in size, Ingaksa Temple also grew to be…
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Cheongryeonam Hermitage – 청련암 (Dalseong-gun, Daegu)
Hermitage History Cheongryeonam Hermitage, which means “Blue Lotus Hermitage” in English, is located to the east of the main temple, Namjijangsa Temple, in Dolseong, Daegu. Both the temple and the hermitage are situated to the south of Mt. Choijeongsan (905 m). Like Namjijangsa Temple, Cheongryeonam Hermitage was first constructed in 684 A.D. by the monk Yanggae. Both were built on the behest of King Sinmun of Silla (r. 681-692 A.D.). And like the neighbouring Namjijangsa Temple, Cheongryeonam Hermitage was completely destroyed by the invading Japanese during the Imjin War (1592-1598). In fact, and during the Imjin War, Cheongryeonam Hermitage was used as a training centre for monks that were led…