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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…
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Biroam Hermitage – 비로암 (Dong-gu, Daegu)
Hermitage History Biroam Hermitage is located on the famous Donghwasa Temple grounds on Mt. Palgongsan (1193 m) in Dong-gu, Daegu. Biroam Hermitage is the closest of the hermitages directly associated with Donghwasa Temple on the main temple grounds. Biroam Hermitage was first founded in 863 A.D. during Later Silla (668 – 935 A.D.). The Donghwasa Historical Chronicles – 동화사사적기, which is a historical document that describes the history of Donghwasa Temple, has an entry about Biroam Hermitage. Interestingly, the entry describes Biroam Hermitage as Biro-jeon Hall. The Daejeokgwang-jeon Hall, which is the main hall at Biroam Hermitage, is believed to have been built in the late 18th century. What makes…
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Gunwi Grotto (2nd Seokguram) – 군위 석굴 (제2 석굴암) (Gunwi-gun, Daegu)
Grotto History The Gunwi Grotto in Gunwi-gun, Daegu goes by a few names that include the 2nd Seokguram Hermitage and the Samjonseokgul Cave. The Gunwi Grotto is located on the northern side of Mt. Palgongsan (1,192.3 m). The Buddhist temple founded on this site was believed to be first established during the early part of Unified Silla (676-935 A.D.). The stone cave is located twenty metres above ground, and the height of the cave is 4.25 metres tall. Additionally, the cave is 4.3 metres deep, and the floor of the cave is flat. What makes the Gunwi Grotto so important is that it precedes the founding of the renowned Seokguram…
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Namjijangsa Temple – 남지장사 (Dalseong-gun, Daegu)
Temple History Namjijangsa Temple is located in the southern part of Daegu in Dalseong-gun. More specifically, the temple is located to the south-east of the towering Mt. Choijeongsan (905 m). As for the name of the temple, Namjijangsa Temple means “South Jijang Temple” in English, which is in reference to the Bodhisattva of the Afterlife: Jijang-bosal. And the temple is a counterpart to Bukjijangsa Temple in neighbouring Dong-gu, Daegu. Namjijangsa Temple was first established in 684 A.D. by the monk Yanggae. Eventually, the temple would grow to include eight shrine halls, a Jong-ru (Bell Pavilion) and Cheonwangmun Gate. Namjijangsa Temple is also believed to have once been the home to…