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Baekunam Hermitage – 백운암 (Yangsan, Gyeongsangnam-do)
Hermitage History Baekunam Hermitage is one of the numerous hermitages located on the Tongdosa Temple grounds in Yangsan, Gyeongsangnam-do. Unlike all the other hermitages at Tongdosa Temple, however, Baekunam Hermitage is located halfway up Mt. Yeongchuksan instead of in the foothills of the mountain. Baekunam Hemritage means “White Cloud Hermitage” in English, and it was first established in 892 A.D. in the waning years of Unified Silla (668-935 A.D.) by the monk Jo-Il. There is not much known about the hermitage from the time it was first established until the early part of the 19th century, when Baekunam Hermitage was reconstructed in 1810 by the monk Chimheo. The hermitage has…
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Biroam Hermitage – 비로암 (Yangsan, Gyeongsangnam-do)
Hermitage History Biroam Hermitage is located on the Tongdosa Temple grounds in Yangsan, Gyeongsangnam-do in the southern foothills of Mt. Yeongchuksan (1,082.2 m) some 500 metres away from the neighbouring Geukrakam Hermitage. Biroam Hemritage is named after the Buddha of Cosmic Energy, Birojana-bul. It’s recorded that Biroam Hermitage was first founded in 1345 by the monk Yeongsuk. The hermitage would be rebuilt in 1578 by the monk Taeheum. Biroam Hermitage was completely destroyed during the Imjin War (1592-1598), and it was later rebuilt and reconstructed several more times. In total, Biroam Hermitage is home to one protected property, which is a Gyeongsangnam-do Tangible Cultural Property. The protected property is the…
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Geukrakam Hermitage – 극락암 (Yangsan, Gyeongsangnam-do)
Hermitage History Geukrakam Hermitage is located on the Tongdosa Temple grounds in Yangsan, Gyeongsangnam-do in the foothills of Mt. Yeongchuksan (1082.2 m). The name of the hermitage is closely associated with Amita-bul (The Buddha of the Western Paradise), who typically resides inside a Geukrak-jeon Hall at a temple or hermitage. In English, “Geukrak” means “Ultimate Bliss” for the Western Paradise that Amita-bul resides. Geukrakam Hermitage was first founded in 1344. From its creation to the late Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), very little of the hermitage’s history is known. The only thing that is recorded about the hermitage is that it was reconstructed by the monk Cheolhong in 1758. More recently, and…
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Jajangam Hermitage – 자장암 (Yangsan, Gyeongsangnam-do)
Hermitage History Jajangam Hermitage is located on the Tongdosa Temple grounds in Yangsan, Gyeongsangnam-do in the foothills of Mt. Yeongchuksan (1,082.2 m). Jajangam Hermitage, which is named after the founder of Tongdosa Temple, Jajang-yulsa (590-658 A.D.), predates the construction of Tongdosa Temple, which was built in 646 C.E. It’s believed that Jajangam Hermitage was the staging ground for Tongdosa Temple, and it was originally called Jajang-bang. The hermitage was originally nothing more than a hut that was built beneath a stone rock for the founder of Tongdosa Temple, monk Jajang-yulsa, to worship. Subsequently, Jajang-yulsa’s disciples also worshipped at Jajangam Hermitage, as well. Jajangam Hermitage was one of seven hermitages that…
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Samyeongam Hermitage – 사명암 (Yangsan, Gyeongsangnam-do)
Hermitage History Samyeongam Hermitage is located in Yangsan, Gyeongsangnam-do on the grounds of Tongdosa Temple. In fact, Samyeongam Hermitage is one of 17 hermitages located on the Tongdosa Temple grounds in the foothills of Mt. Yeongchuksan (1,082.2 m). In 1573, two monks named Yigi and Sinbaek, who were admirers of Samyeong-daesa (1544-1610), decided to build a hermitage in his honour. So who was Samyeong-daesa? Samyeong-daesa was born in Miryang, Gyeongsangnam-do in a modest home. Eventually, he would pass the gwageo (civil service examinations) to become a Buddhist monk in 1561. With the outbreak of the Imjin War (1592-98), Samyeong-daesa led an army of 5,000 trained soldier-monks known as the Righteous…
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Video: Seounam Hermitage – 서운암 (Yangsan, Gyeongsangnam-do)
Hello Again Everyone!! Alongside Samyeongam Hermitage, Jajangam Hermitage, and Geukrakam Hermitage, Seounam Hermitage is another one of the beautiful hermitages that takes up residence on the Tongdosa Temple grounds. But unlike the three other hermitages, Seounam Hermitage has extensive grounds that a visitor can explore. During these explorations, you can come around a Koi pond, large clay soy pots, and even a fenced off enclosure for a collection of peacocks. The hermitage was first built in 1346. And inside the Janggyeong-gak, in the upper courtyard, you can find a collection of the Tripitaka Koreana that you can find at Haeinsa Temple. So follow me as we walk our way through…
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Video: Samyeongam Hermitage – 사명암 (Yangsan, Gyeongsangnam-do)
Hello Again Everyone!! Another beautiful hermitage that’s located on the Tongdosa Temple grounds is the amazing Samyeongam Hermitage. A personal favourite of mine, Samyeongam Hermitage was named after the warrior monk, Samyeong-daesa (1544-1610). The hermitage was first constructed in 1573. With a beautiful, large Koi pond that’s spanned by a granite bridge, Samyeongam Hermitage is occupied with a large main hall, a Samseong-gak shaman shrine hall, and a Josa-jeon (Founders’ Hall) with a mural of Samyeong-daesa inside. The hermitage is especially beautiful during the spring months, when it seems like the entire grounds are in bloom. So follow me around a personal favourite of mine, as I tour around Samyeongam…
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Video: Geukrakam Hermitage – 극락암 (Yangsan, Gyeongsangnam-do)
Hello Again Everyone!! Geukrakam Hermitage, which is a reference to the heaven that Amita-bul (The Buddha of the Western Paradise) rules over, is one of the beautiful temples located of the vast Tongdosa Temple grounds. First built in 1344, Geukrakam Hermitage means “Ultimate Bliss Hermitage,” in English. In addition to the unique Chilseong-gak with seven individual paintings of the shaman Seven Stars deity, the hermitage also has a picturesque Hong Bridge that spans a Koi pond and is most beautiful during the spring months when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom. So follow me in this video as I tour around the amazingly beautiful Geukrakam Hermitage in Yangsan, Gyeongsangnam-do.
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Video: Jajangam Hermitage – 자장암 (Yangsan, Gyeongsangnam-do)
Hello Again Everyone!! Jajangam Hermitage is one of the beautiful hermitages located on the Tongdosa Temple grounds. The temple is named after the famed monk, Jajang-yulsa (590-658), was the location from which Jajang-yulsa built Tongdosa Temple. Now comprising of three buildings (the main hall, Chilseong-gak, and Samseong-gak), as well as a beautiful view of the valley and Mt. Yeongchuksan off in the distance, Jajangam Hermitage makes for a nice little escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. So sit back and enjoy the view and the harmonious atmosphere that Jajangam Hermitage offers a visitor to its beautiful grounds.
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Video: Tongdosa Temple – 통도사 (Yangsan, Gyeongsangnam-do)
This posts contains affiliate links. I receive a percentage of sales, if you purchase the item after clicking on an advertising link at no expense to you. This will help keep the website running. Thanks, as always, for your support! Hello Again Everyone!! So the new material on the new website will focus on vlogging. And the first of these vlogs is of Tongdosa Temple, which also just so happens to be my favourite temple in Korea. Tongdosa Temple, which means “Pass Through to Enlightenment Temple,” in English. The temple was first built in 646 A.D. to house the holy relics of Seokgamoni-bul (The Historical Buddha). Ever since then, the…