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Yongamsa Temple – 용암사 (Paju, Gyeonggi-do)
Temple History Yongamsa Temple is located in eastern Paju, Gyeonggi-do to the west of Mt. Bakdalsan (363 m). Although the exact date of the temple’s founding is unknown, it does seem to be closely linked to the creation of the “Two Rock-Carved Standing Buddhas in Yongmi-ri, Paju,” which is believed to date back to the 11th century. Although there are no records about the temple from the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), it is known that Yongamsa Temple was destroyed during the Imjin War (1592-98) and later rebuilt on the old temple site in 1936. The Daeung-jeon Hall was constructed in 1979. And a year later, the mural dedicated to Jijang-bosal (The…
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Heungguksa Temple – 흥국사 (Goyang, Gyeonggi-do)
Temple History Heungguksa Temple is located in Goyang, Gyeonggi-do just outside the city limits of Seoul and the park boundaries of Bukhansan National Park. The temple is believed to have first been established in 661 A.D. by the famed monk Wonhyo-daesa (617-686 A.D.). After practicing at neighbouring Wonhyoam Hermitage, Wonhyo-daesa decided to also build Heungseongam Hermitage, which is located some three kilometres away. Wonhyo-daesa noticed auspicious energy rising from the western foothills of Mt. Hansan for three consecutive days. Upon further investigation, Wonhyo-daesa found that a seated image of Yaksayeorae-bul (The Buddha of Medicine) had emerged from the ground at the current site of the Yaksa-jeon Hall at Heungguksa Temple.…
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Bogwangsa Temple – 보광사 (Paju, Gyeonggi-do)
Temple History Bogwangsa Temple is located in eastern Paju, Gyeonggi-do to the west of Mt. Goryeongsan (621.1 m). Bogwangsa Temple was first founded in 894 A.D. by the famed monk Doseon-guksa (826-898 A.D.) as a national treasure temple (국가비보사찰) following a royal command. In 1215, the monk Wonjin renovated the temple, and the monk Beopmin enshrined five Buddha and Bodhisattva statues inside the main hall. This was followed in 1388 by the monk Muhak (1327–1405) renovating the temple, once more. Bogwangsa Temple was completely destroyed by fire during the Imjin War (1592-98). The temple would eventually be rebuilt in 1622 by the monks Seolmi and Deokin. In 1631, the monk…
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Bomunsa Temple – 보문사 (Ganghwa, Incheon)
Temple History Bomunsa Temple is located on Seongmo-do Island to the west of Ganghwa-do Island. However, while Bomunsa Temple is located on Seongmo-do Island, it’s apart of Ganghwa County in Incheon. The temple is located to the south of Mt. Nakgasan (235 m). Mt. Nakgasan is a transliteration of Mt. Potalaka, which is the mythical dwelling of Gwanseeum-bosal (The Bodhisattva of Compassion). As for Bomunsa Temple, it means “Universal Gate Temple” in English. Bomunsa Temple was first founded in 635 A.D. by the monk Hoejeong-daesa. In 649 A.D., twenty-two images of Buddhas and Nahan (Historical Disciples of the Buddha) were enshrined inside the Nahan-jeon cave shrine hall. Little is known…
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Jeondeungsa Temple – 전등사 (Ganghwa, Incheon)
Temple History Jeondeungsa Temple, which means “Transmitting (Dharma) Light Temple” in English, is thought to be the oldest extant Buddhist temple in Korea. It’s located in Ganghwa-do Island in Incheon. It was first built in 381 A.D. by the monk Ado-hwasang. The monk Ado-hwasang arrived on Ganghwa-do Island from Jin Dynasty (266–420 A.D.) to spread Buddhism to the Silla Kingdom (57 B.C. – 935 A.D.). While Ado-hwasang was staying on Ganghwa-do Island, he built a temple on the future Jeondeungsa Temple site. This temple was originally known as Jinjongsa Temple. However, very little is known about the history of the temple until the mid-Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392). It’s not until 1259…
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Dongdosa Temple – 동도사 (Yongin, Gyeonggi-do)
Temple History Dongdosa Temple is located in the southern part of Yongin, Gyeonggi-do in the northern foothills of Mt. Geomeunsan. The north side of the temple faces directly out onto the Idong Reservoir. Dongdosa Temple is a modern temple with a long history. That might sound a bit paradoxical; but in a bit, hopefully, it’ll make a bit more sense. When the neighbouring Eubirisa Temple was submerged in water after the construction of the Idong Reservoir in 1963, the temple was moved to the Dongdosa Temple location. With this move, a few of Eubirisa Temple’s artifacts moved to their new location. These artifacts included items like the “Three-Story Stone Pagoda…
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Godalsa-ji Temple Site – 고달사지 (Yeoju, Gyeonggi-do)
Temple Site History The Godalsa-ji Temple Site is located in the northern part of Yeoju, Gyeonggi-do in the southern foothills of Mt. Udusan (484.4 m). Godalsa Temple was first founded in 764 A.D. during Unified Silla (668-935 A.D.). As for the name of the temple, and according to a founding legend, there was a stonemason named Godal who completed the construction of the temple. Not only that, but according to this very same legend, Godal crafted several of the most prominent pieces of stonework that are now protected Korean cultural heritage properties. Godal was so focused on his work that he forgot about his family who were starving to death.…
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Seoknamsa Temple – 석남사 (Anseong, Gyeonggi-do)
Temple History Seoknamsa Temple in Anseong, Gyeonggi-do, not to be confused with the one in Ulsan with the same name, is located to the north of Mt. Seounsan (547.6 m). The temple was first founded in 680 A.D. by the monk Goseung Seokseon. It was later rebuilt by the monk Hyegeo in the early part of the Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392). During the Goryeo Dynasty, hundreds of monks called Seoknamsa Temple home. During the early part of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), Seoknamsa Temple remained intact despite the Confucian-oriented government policies of the Joseon court. While many other temples either fell into disrepair or were completely destroyed by this policy, Seoknamsa Temple…
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Cheongnyongsa Temple – 청룡사 (Anseong, Gyeonggi-do)
Temple History Cheongnyongsa Temple is located in the southern part of Anseong, Gyeonggi-do in the southwestern foothills of Mt. Seounsan (547.6 m). The temple is presumed to have first been built in 1265 by the monk Zhongfeng Mingben (1263-1323), who was a monk from Yuan China (1271–1368). Originally, the temple was known as Daejangam Hermitage. In 1364, the famed monk Naong (1320-1376) expanded the temple and changed its name to Cheongnyongsa Temple, which means “Blue Dragon Temple” in English. He named the temple as such because he saw a blue dragon descending from the sky from auspicious clouds. During the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), the temple was completely destroyed by fire…
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Yongdeoksa Temple – 용덕사 (Yongin, Gyeonggi-do)
Temple History Yongdeoksa Temple is located to the west of Mt. Gulamsan (345.8 m) and to the south of Yongin, Gyeonggi-do. Yongdeoksa Temple was first founded 1,300 years ago. It was first built by Yeomgeo-seonsa (?-844 A.D.) during the reign of King Munseong of Silla (r. 839-857 A.D.). It was later rebuilt by Doseon-guksa (826-898 A.D.). According to a temple myth, there were three iron figures that were used to help suppress the strong spirit of the mountain. According to “The Record of Repairing Yongdeoksa Temple,” from “The Record of Contribution of Buddha Food Paddy Field,” which was written in 1914, Yongdeoksa Temple was reconstructed by the monk Seokdam-seonsa in…