-
Yeonjiam Hermitage – 연지암 (Gyeongju)
Hermitage History and Legend Yeonjiam Hermitage is located in southeastern Gyeongju. The hermitage was first founded during the latter part of Japanese Colonial Rule (1910-45) by a Buddhist laywoman named Kim Yeonji. According to the hermitage legend, Kim had a dream in which the sound of a wooden hand bell, or moktak in Korean, was coming from the middle of a field. When Kim went to this field, she started digging. It was during this dig that she discovered a statue of Yaksayeorae-bul (The Medicine Buddha, and the Buddha of the Eastern Paradise). This would end up being the “Standing Stone Buddha Statue in Hwalseong-ri, Gyeongju,” which is a provincial…
-
Geumjeongsa Temple – 금정사 (Gyeongju)
Temple History Geumjeongsa Temple is located in western Gyeongju near the summit of Mt. Saryongsan (685.5 m). In fact, Geumjeongsa Temple might be the most westerly temple in the ancient city of Gyeongju. According to tradition, Geumjeongsa Temple was first founded by the famed monk Wonhyo (617-686 A.D.). After being damaged during the Imjin War (1592-98), the temple would eventually be rebuilt during the reign of King Yeongjo of Joseon (r. 1724-1776) in 1750. Geumjeongsa Temple is one of the 982 traditional Buddhist temples in Korea. Temple Layout You first make your way up towards Geumjeongsa Temple up a steep, side-winding mountain road that stretches over a kilometre in distance.…
-
Former Seogyeongsa Temple – 구 서경사 (Gyeongju)
Temple History The former Seogyeongsa Temple is located in central Gyeongju. According to the sign that details the history of Seogyeongsa Temple, Seogyeongsa Temple was built around 1932 during Japanese Colonial Rule (1910-45). However, and according to archival documents, what’s more likely is that Seogyeongsa Temple was first built between 1936-37 by Shibata Dankuro, who was a prominent Japanese businessman in Gyeongju. Seogyeongsa Temple was first built to support the religious lives of Japanese Buddhists residing in Gyeongju. Shibata first came to the Korean Peninsula before the Japanese annexation of Korea in 1910. Initially, Shibata moved to the Korean Peninsula to work in gold mining; however, he would ultimately fail.…
-
Seongjuam Hermitage – 성주암 (Gyeongju)
Hermitage History Seongjuam Hermitage is located on the eastern side of Mt. Byeokdosan (437.1 m) in central Gyeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do. It’s hard to tell just how old the diminutive hermitage is; however, it’s one striking feature is the Rock-Carved Standing Buddha Triad in Yul-dong, which is Korean Treasure #122. The Rock-Carved Standing Buddha Triad in Yul-dong appears to be from Unified Silla (668-935 A.D.). Stylistically, the Buddha triad that appears on the carving is similar to the one found at the Gulbulsa-ji Temple Site also in Gyeongju. The 8th century piece consists of a triad centred by Amita-bul (The Buddha of the Western Paradise). This central image is joined on either…
-
Gamsansa Temple – 감산사 (Gyeongju)
Temple History Gamsansa Temple, which means “Sweet Mountain Temple” in English, is located about two kilometres to the south of the famed Bulguksa Temple on Mt. Tohamsan (745.7 m) in eastern Gyeongju. According to the inscriptions found on the “Stone Standing Maitreya Bodhisattva of Gamsansa Temple” and the “Stone Standing Amitabha Buddha of Gamsansa Temple,” both of which are National Treasures, Gamsansa Temple was first built on “‘Nirvana Day’ (February 15th) in the eighteenth year of King Seongdeok of Silla (r. 702-737 A.D.).” Based on this information, Gamsansa Temple was first established in 719 A.D. As to who first commissioned the construction of Gamsansa Temple, it was Kim Jiseong (651-720…
-
Yeolam-gok Valley on Mt. Namsan – 열암곡 (Gyeongju)
Valley Layout The Yeolam-gok Valley is located on the southeastern side of Mt. Namsan (495.1 m) in Gyeongju. The Yeolam-gok Valley is probably one of the least traveled portions of Mt. Namsan, especially when you consider that the mountain is home to such highlights as Chilbulam Hermitage, the Samreung Valley on the west side of the mountain, Bucheobawi, Sambulsa Temple, the Yongjangsa-ji Temple Site, and numerous other sites. In fact, Mt. Namsan is home to some 122 temples and temple sites, 53 stone statues, 64 pagodas, 16 stone lanterns, 36 monuments, royal tombs and even a fortress. Of this total number, two of these amazing sites can be found in…
-
Colonial Korea – Seokguram Hermitage
Hermitage History Seokguram Hermitage on Mt. Tohamsan in eastern Gyeongju houses the most famous statue in all of Korea. In English, Seokguram Hermitage means “Stone Cave Hermitage.” Not only is it a UNESCO World Heritage Site as of 1995 alongside Bulguksa Temple, it’s also National Treasure #24. Construction on Seokguram Grotto first started in 751 A.D. by Kim Daeseong (700-774 A.D.), who was the chief minister of Silla. The grotto was completed in 774 A.D. by the Silla court shortly after Kim’s death. According to the “Samguk Yusa,” or “Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms” in English, neighbouring Bulguksa Temple and the Seokguram Grotto were built to honor Kim Daeseong’s parents. Seokguram Grotto was…
-
Changnimsa-ji Temple Site – 창림사지 (Gyeongju)
Temple Site History The Changnimsa-ji Temple Site is located on the northwestern foothills of Mt. Namsan in Gyeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do. It’s believed that the temple site dates back to at least the 8th century based upon the age of the “Three-Story Stone Pagoda at Changnimsa Temple Site of Namsan Mountain,” which also just so happens to be Korean Treasure #1867. It’s believed that the temple continued to operate throughout the Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392), until it finally fell into disrepair during the early part of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910). Purportedly, the Changnimsa-ji Temple Site is also the site of the first Silla palace, which was erected by King Hyeokgeose of Silla (r.…
-
Giwonjeongsa Temple – 기원정사 (Gyeongju)
Temple History Giwonjeongsa Temple is located in the far eastern part of Gyeongju on Mt. Hyeongsan (257.1 m). In fact, it’s so far east, it almost runs up against the city limits of Pohang, Gyeongsangbuk-do. Purportedly, the temple was originally built 1,300 years ago during the Silla Dynasty (57 B.C. – 935 A.D.). Later, and in 1995, the abbot of the temple found the current location and decided to build a temple on the site because it looked like a blue dragon turning its head. The name of the temple is a reference to Jetavana, which is where the Buddha gave the majority of his vassas (three month annual retreat).…
-
Colonial Korea – Mt. Namsan in Gyeongju
Introduction At the very heart of Japan’s Colonial interest in Korean Buddhism was where the religious and secular met, where Koreans and Japanese interacted and came into conflict, where preservation met exploitation, and Mt. Namsan in Gyeongju was at the very heart of this debate that took place during Japanese Colonial Rule (1910-45). There are numerous reasons as to why the Japanese Colonial authorities took an interest in Korean Buddhism. The first of these four reasons is Japan believed that Buddhism was a legitimate and natural counterpoint to help check future encroachment by Western Christianity. And because Korea’s history was so rooted in Buddhism, it would help function as a…