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Hansansa Temple – 한산사 (Hadong, Gyeongsangnam-do)
Temple History Hansansa Temple is located in northern Hadong, Gyeongsangnam-do to the south of Sinseon-bong Peak (615.3 m). According to the “Gazetteer of Agyang-myeon” (Agyang-myeonji), Hansansa Temple is presumed to have first been built during the Silla Dynasty (57 B.C. – 935 A.D.). According to local oral tradition, the temple was first founded in 544 A.D. One story relates how a monk from Hwaeomsa Temple first built Hansansa Temple. It’s also stated that the temple was moved from its original location to its current location because of a bedbug infestation. However, there is no evidence to prove or disprove these assertions. While there are no direct historical records about Hansansa…
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Ugoksa Temple – 우곡사 (Changwon, Gyeongsangnam-do)
Temple History Ugoksa Temple is located to the south of the Seocheon-jeosuji Reservoir in northeastern Changwon, Gyeongsangnam-do. And to the west, you’ll find Mt. Naejeongbyeongsan (493m). In English, Ugoksa Temple means “Ox Valley Temple.” It’s believed that Ugoksa Temple was first founded in 832 A.D. by Muyeom-guksa (801-888 A.D.). He built the temple as a place to help train future generations of Buddhist monks. After the founding of the temple, very few records about the history of Ugoksa Temple exist. However, Ugoksa Temple does appear in the “Beomugo – 梵宇攷,” which is an historical text that was compiled in 1799. Because Ugoksa Temple is mentioned as being located on Mt.…
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Anguksa Temple – 안국사 (Hamyang, Gyeongsangnam-do)
Temple History Anguksa Temple in Hamyang, Gyeongsangnam-do is one of several temples with this exact same name in Korea. As for this Anguksa Temple, it’s located on the western slopes of Mt. Geumdaesan (851.5m) near Geumdaeam Hermitage. Anguksa Temple was first founded in 1403 by the monk Haenghojo, who built the temple in hopes of stabilizing Joseon (1392-1910), which had just formed a few years prior. On August 29, 1598, and during the Imjin War (1592-98), about 500 Japanese soldiers entered the Mt. Jirisan region and burned the temple down along with Geumdaeam Hermitage. Although it was later rebuilt, the temple would eventually be destroyed by fire in 1947. It…
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Hakbangsa Temple – 학방사 (Hadong, Gyeongsangnam-do)
Temple History Hakbangsa Temple, which is also referred to as Hakbangam Hermitage, is located in eastern Hadong, Gyeongsangnam-do to the southwest of Mt. Bonghaksan. Hakbangsa Temple means “Fragrant Crane Temple” in English. As for the name of the mountain where Hakbangsa Temple is located, it looks like the shape of a crane lying down. And where the temple is built, it’s placed under what looks like the wings of the crane. Eventually, it’s believed, that the crane will finally spread its wings and soar high up into the sky. According to the temple registration for Gyeongsangnam-do, Hakbangsa Temple was originally founded in the late Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392). There is very…
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Chilseongsa Temple – 칠성사 (Hadong, Gyeongsangnam-do)
Temple History Chilseongsa Temple is located to the west of Chilseong-bong Peak (905.8 m) in northern Hadong, Gyeongsangnam-do. Originally, the temple was known as Geumbongam Hermitage, or “Golden Phoenix Hermitage” in English, when it was rebuilt in 2004. The name of the hermitage then changed to Geumbongsa Temple in 2009 with the increase in prominence of the temple. Finally, the temple was renamed as Chilseongsa Temple, or “Seven Stars Temple” in English, on October 8th, 2014. Chilseongsa Temple is a temple that was restored and rebuilt in 2004 by the monk Danje. Danje was a disciple of Hyobong, who was a monk that served as the Supreme Patriarch of the…
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Songgyesa Temple – 송계사 (Geochang, Gyeongsangnam-do)
Temple History Songgyesa Temple is located in the eastern foothills of Mt. Deogyusan (1,614.2 m) in northern Geochang, Gyeongsangnam-do. Songgyesa Temple means “Pine Stream Temple” in English. It’s believed that the temple was first founded by the monks Wonhyho-daesa (617-686 A.D.) and Uisang-daesa (625-702 A.D.) in 652 A.D. The famed monks first built Yeongchwisa Temple in the area. This was subsequently followed by the building of five hermitages. One of these hermitages was Songgyeam Hermitage. During the Imjin War (1592-98), Yeongchwisa Temple and all five of the hermitages were burned down and destroyed. However, during the reign of King Sukjong of Joseon (r. 1674-1720), the monk Jinmyeong would only rebuild…
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Geumdaeam Hermitage – 금대암 (Hamyang, Gyeongsangnam-do)
Hermitage History Geumdaeam Hermitage, which is also sometimes referred to as Geumdaesa Temple, is a hermitage directly associated with neighbouring Anguksa Temple in the southern slopes of Mt. Geumdaesan (851.5 m) in southern Hamyang, Gyeongsangnam-do. According to local legend, the Sanshin (The Mountain Spirit) of Mt. Jirisan is believed to be female. However, at Mt. Geumdaesan, which is part of Mt. Jirisan (1,915 m), it’s believed to be a male Sanshin. So the female energy of the mountain concentrates at Mt. Geumdaesan, making it a place of great spiritual power and harmony. Geumdaeam Hermitage means “Gold Platform Hermitage” in English. Geumdaeam Hermitage was first founded in 656 A.D. by the…
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Tongdosa Temple Changnyeong Propagation Center – 통도사 창녕포교당 (Changnyeong, Gyeongsangnam-do)
Temple History The Tongdosa Temple Changnyeong Propagation Center is located in the eastern part of Changnyeong, Gyeongsangnam-do. It’s believed that the propagation center is located on the site of the former Inwangsa Temple, which was a prominent temple that existed during the Silla Dynasty (57 B.C. – 935 A.D.). As for the current Tongdosa Temple Changnyeong Propagation Center and its founding, a plaque hanging above the door to an auxiliary building has an inscription on it that reads “Buchal Tongdosa Bonmalsa Changnyeong Pogyo-dang Creation Merit.” This inscription also details how on July 7, 1939, the monk Chundam founded the missionary temple with the goal of propagating the “Inwang-gyeong,” which is…
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Sejinam Hermitage – 셰진암 (Geoje,Gyeongsangnam-do)
Hermitage History Sejinam Hermitage is located in western Geoje, Gyeongsangnam-do in the southern foothills of Mt. Dongsan (141.7 m), which is where Oksangeum-seong Fortress is located. It’s also situated right next to the Bangokseowon Confucian Academy. It’s believed that Sejinam Hermitage was reconstructed in 1902. In addition, Japanese records indicate that “during the Daehan Empire [1897–1910], there was an ancient temple in Geoje-myeon.” It’s believed that this is a reference to Sejinam Hermitage. The hermitage was designated as one of the 982 traditional temples on June 10, 1988. As such, it was designated as Traditional Temple #14, which was the first traditional temple in Geoje. Throughout the years, the hermitage…
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Yeonggaksa Temple – 영각사 (Hamyang, Gyeongsangnam-do)
Temple History Yeonggaksa Temple is located in northern Hamyang, Gyeongsangnam-do in the southern foothills of Mt. Namdeokyusan (1,507.4 m). The temple was first founded in 877 A.D. by the monk Simgwang-seonsa. Simgwang-seonsa was a disciple of Muyeom-guksa (801-888 A.D.), who was the founder of the Seongjusan Sect, which was part of the “Nine Mountain Schools,” or “Gusan” in Korean. During the early part of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), Yeonggaksa Temple fell into disrepair, but it was later rebuilt in 1449 by the monk Wongyeong-seonsa. After this, the temple underwent numerous restorations. Then in 1834, a fire completely destroyed the temple grounds except for the Hwaeom-jeon Hall. Over fifty years later,…