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Yulgoksa Temple – 율곡사 (Sancheong, Gyeongsangnam-do)
Temple History Yulgoksa Temple is located in eastern Sancheong, Gyeongsangnam-do in the the eastern foothills of Mt. Jeongsusan (829.8 m). Purportedly, Yulgoksa Temple was first founded in 651 A.D. by the famed monk Wonhyo-daesa (617-686 A.D.). The temple would later be rebuilt in 930 A.D. by the monk Gamak. Almost nothing is known about the temple during the Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392). However, there is an octagonal stone pedestal for a Buddha statue that’s situated in front of the temple’s Daeung-jeon Hall from the Goryeo Dynasty. Also, Yulgoksa Temple is mentioned in the Dongguk Yeoji Seungnam (Geographical Records of Korea), which was published during the reign of King Seongjong of Joseon…
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Daebeopsa Temple – 대법사 (Miryang, Gyeongsangnam-do)
Temple History Daebeopsa Temple is located in western Miryang, Gyeongsangnam-do in the northern foothills of Mt. Deokamsan (545.3 m). Originally, the temple was constructed in 668 A.D. by the famed monk Uisang-daesa (625-702 A.D.). Purportedly, while meditating, Uisang-daesa saw three cranes flying in the sky. Eventually, they would land in an area where the future Daebeopsa Temple would be built. At this time, he built a small hermitage and named it Baekhaam Hermitage. Originally, Baekhaam Hermitage was located near the future birthplace of Samyeong-daesa (1544-1610), the warrior monk. In fact, Samyeong-daesa stayed at this very hermitage for about ten years of his life. Later, and after Samyeong-daesa died at Hongjeam…
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Seongjeonam Hermitage – 성전암 (Jinju, Gyeongsangnam-do)
Hermitage History To the south of Mt. Baekisan (369 m) in eastern Jinju, Gyeongsangnam-do, you’ll find Seongjeonam Hermitage. The hermitage was first established in 879 A.D. by the famed monk Doseon-guksa (826-898 A.D.). The construction of Seongjeonam Hermitage was based upon Doseon-guksa applying the principles of pungsu-jiri (geomancy, feng shui). Doseon-guksa believed that the vital energy from Mt. Baekdusan, flowing southward along the east coast, peaked at Mt. Samgaksan to the north and Mt. Yeohangsan to the south. Recognizing this location as an auspicious site for a great temple, Doseon-guksa built Seongjeonam Hermitage. The exact details of the hermitage’s history after its founding are unknown. It’s not until the Joseon…
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Simjeoksa Temple – 심적사 (Sancheong, Gyeongsangnam-do)
Temple History Simjeoksa Temple is located in southern Sancheong, Gyeongsangnam-do in the southern foothills of Mt. Gisan (616.1 m), which is just outside Jirisan National Park. Simjeoksa Temple was first founded in 929 A.D.; however, the founder of the temple is unknown. Nothing is known about the temple until it was rebuilt in 1610 by the monks Seolam, Iam, and Seolbong. Most of the temple’s history remains unrecorded. However, we do know that the temple was destroyed during the Korean War (1950-53). Restoration work started on the temple in 1976, this included the rebuilding of the Nahan-jeon Hall at Simjeoksa Temple. Temple Legend There is a legend connected to Simjeoksa…
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Janguisa Temple – 장의사 (Goseong, Gyeongsangnam-do)
Temple History Janguisa Temple is located on the eastern slopes of Mt. Munamsan (459.4 m) in eastern Goseong, Gyeongsangnam-do. Janguisa Temple was first founded by the famed monk Wonhyo-daesa (617-686 A.D.) in 642 A.D. After its founding, nothing is known about the temple’s history. In 1885, Janguisa Temple was destroyed by flooding. The temple was rebuilt in 1891 in its current location, which is lower on the mountain than its original location. The temple was rebuilt, once more, by the monk Hobong in 1920. And the temple we know today was rebuilt in the early 1960s. Janguisa Temple is home to one provincial treasure, it’s the “Goseong Janguisa Stone Gwanseeum-bosal…
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Pokpoam Hermitage – 폭포암 (Goseong, Gyeongsangnam-do)
Hermitage History Pokpoam Hermitage, which means “Waterfall Hermitage” in English, is situated to the south of Mt. Gujeolsan (564.5) in northeastern Goseong, Gyeongsangnam-do. Pokpoam Hermitage is situated on the former temple grounds of Sadusa Temple. Sadusa Temple was used as a site for the manufacturing of arrows for the Righteous Army led by Samyeong-daesa (1544-1610). The temple was destroyed, when it was burned to the ground by the invading Japanese army during the Imjin War (1592-98). The temple would remain abandoned until 1981, when the monk Hyeongak came to Goseong to pray for one hundred days. It was around this time that tiles and the foundation for the former Sadusa…
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Unheungsa Temple – 운흥사 (Goseong, Gyeongsangnam-do)
Temple History Unheungsa Temple is situated up a long valley between Mt. Bongamsan (434.6 m) and Mt. Baekamsan (403 m) to the far west of Goseong, Gyeongsangnam-do. Unheungsa Temple was first constructed in 676 A.D. by the famed monk Uisang-daesa (625-702 A.D.). Little is known about the temple until it was used to raise an army of some 6,000 warrior monks during the Imjin War (1592-98) and led by Samyeong-daesa (1544-1610). A large portion of the temple was destroyed at this time. It wasn’t until 1651 that the temple was partially rebuilt. The current Daeung-jeon Hall and Yeongsan-jeon Hall were reconstructed in 1731. Additionally, there was a bronze bell at…
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Wonhyoam Hermitage – 원효암 (Yangsan, Gyeongsangnam-do)
Hermitage History Wonhyoam Hermitage, which is one among eight hermitages with the same name in Korea, is located in Yangsan, Gyeongsangnam-do on the western slopes of Mt. Cheonseongsan (920.1 m), which means “A Thousand Saints Mountain” in English. In fact, the hermitage is situated at 900 metres above sea level. The hermitage is named after the famed monk Wonhyo-daesa (617-686 A.D.), who lived and taught in the area. It’s said that Wonhyo-daesa first established Wonhyoam Hermitage in 646 A.D., which is also the very same year that neighbouring Tongdosa Temple was first established, as well. As to how Wonhyo-daesa first came to the region, there’s a rather interesting legend. According…
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Seochukam Hermitage – 서축암 (Yangsan, Gyeongsangnam-do)
Hermitage History Seochukam Hermitage is located on the Tongdosa Temple grounds in Yangsan, Gyeongsangnam-do in the southern foothills of Mt. Yeongchuksan (1,082.2 m). Seochukam Hermitage is one of nearly twenty hermitages on the Tongdosa Temple grounds; in fact, it’s just 150 metres away from neighbouring Jajangam Hermitage. The hermitage was first founded by the monk Wolha in 1996. In total, there are only a handful of buildings on the hermitage grounds. Hermitage Layout You first make your way up to the hermitage up a long, forested roadway, until you eventually come to the hermitage parking lot south of the walled-off grounds. To the right of the hermitage parking lot, you’ll…
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Deoksansa Temple (Naewonsa Temple) – 덕산사 (Sancheong, Gyeongsangnam-do)
Temple History Deoksansa Temple, which was formerly known as Naewonsa Temple, is located in the eastern part of Jirisan National Park in Sancheong, Gyeongsangnam-do. Deoksansa Temple was first established in 657 A.D. purportedly by the famed monk Wonhyo-daesa (617-686 A.D.). The temple was later reconstructed by Muyeom-guksa (801-888 A.D.) during the ninth century. It was at this time that the temple was quite popular thanks in large part to Muyeom-guksa’s influence and reputation. It was at this time that the temple was originally known as Deoksansa Temple only to be changed to Naewonsa Temple during the Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392). Naewonsa Temple means “Inner House Temple” in English. During the Confucian-oriented…