Illaksa Temple – 일락사 (Seosan, Chungcheongnam-do)

Temple History
Illaksa Temple is located in southeastern Seosan, Chungcheongnam-do in the western foothills of Mt. Illaksan (521.4 m). It’s believed that Illaksa Temple was first established in 663 A.D. by the monk Uihyeon-seonsa. However, it’s difficult to verify the very existence of Uihyeon-seonsa. Eventually, the temple would fall into disrepair at one point only to be restored during the early part of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910).
According to the “Record of the Reconstruction of the Daeung-jeon Hall of Illaksa Temple,” which was produced in 1918, Illaksa Temple has undergone numerous reconstructions including in 1487, 1530, and 1649. The earliest known reconstruction at Illaksa Temple occurred during the mid-Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) when Haemieupseong Fortress was built, suggesting the temple existed even before this time period.
There is some dispute as to what the temple name might mean, but if you ask the abbot of the temple, he says that the name of the temple means “Everyday Happiness Temple” in English. In historical texts, on the other hand, like the “Sinjeung Dongguk Yeoji Seungnam” and a 1957 land register, the temple was referred to as Iraksa Temple, or “Sun Peak Temple” in English. Now, the temple is known as Illaksa Temple, which means “Sun’s Merriment Temple” in English. The current name of the temple appears to date back to some time during Japanese Colonial Rule (1910-45). So depending on who you believe, the temple can either mean “Sun’s Merriment Temple” or “Everyday Happiness Temple” in English.
The current Daeung-jeon Hall was dismantled in 1993 and rebuilt to the right of its original location. Also, it now functions as a Myeongbu-jeon Hall. A new Daejeokgwang-jeon Hall was constructed on the former site of the Daeung-jeon Hall in 2016.
In total, Illaksa Temple is home to four provincial treasures, which are known as Chungcheongnam-do Cultural Heritage Material. They are the Daeung-jeon Hall, the “Iron Buddha of Illaksa Temple,” “Bronze Bell of Illaksa Temple,” and the “Three-Story Stone Pagoda of Illaksa Temple.”
Temple Layout
From the temple parking lot to the south of the main temple grounds, you’ll head up a sideroad to your left. You’ll enter the main temple courtyard from the west. You’ll pass by an auxiliary building to your left, as you enter into the main temple courtyard. Straight ahead of you is the newly built Daejeokgwang-jeon Hall. The exterior walls are filled with beautiful paintings dedicated to the Bodhidharma with a reddish-yellow sun at his back, Podae-hwasang (The Hempen Bag) with an equally fiery sun at his back, and the Palsang-do (The Eight Scenes from the Buddha’s Life Murals).
Stepping inside the newly constructed Daejeokgwang-jeon Hall, you’ll find a main altar centred by the “Iron Buddha of Illaksa Temple.” This statue measures 80 cm tall and 60 cm wide. It’s unclear just how old the statue might be. This iron Buddha is an image of Birojana-bul (The Buddha of Cosmic Energy). It has a flat, broad head with a visible topknot. It appears as though it’s slightly bowing. And it’s making the mudra (ritualized hand gesture) of the diamond fist. To the left and right of the central image of Birojana-bul are images of Seokgamoni-bul (The Historical Buddha) and Nosana-bul (The Perfect Body Buddha). This triad is backed by a black wall with golden script written on it. To the left of the main altar, you’ll find an older mural dedicated to Dokseong (The Lonely Saint) and a statue of one of the Nahan (The Historical Disciples of the Buddha). Also found to the immediate left of the main altar is an all-white image of Gwanseeum-bosal (The Bodhisattva of Compassion) painted directly onto one of the interior walls. To the right of the main altar, on the other hand, is an older mural dedicated to Chilseong (The Seven Stars) and a Shinjung Taenghwa (Guardian Mural). And if you look above both side entries before exiting the main hall on either side of the shrine hall, you’ll find a blue lion and a white elephant. Typically, the blue lion is the mount of Munsu-bosal (The Bodhisattva of Wisdom), while the six-tusked white elephant has Bohyeon-bosal (The Bodhisattva of Power) riding it.
Out in front of the Daejeokgwang-jeon Hall, you’ll find the “Three-Story Stone Pagoda of Illaksa Temple.” It’s believed that the pagoda was first made during the early Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392), while retaining the former Silla Dynasty’s (57 B.C. – 935 A.D.) style and design. Parts of the pagoda have been damaged, including the absence of the finial.
To the right of the Daejeokgwang-jeon Hall is the rebuilt former Daeung-jeon Hall, which is now the temple’s Myeongbu-jeon Hall. Rebuilt in 1993, it was dismantled and relocated to its current location. It now stands to the right of the newly constructed Daejeokgwang-jeon Hall, which was constructed in 2016. It’s unknown when the shrine hall was first built, but records state it was repaired five times between 1504 and 1646. It was rebuilt, once more, in 1918. The exterior walls of the Myeongbu-jeon Hall are adorned in simple dancheong colours. Stepping inside the Myeongbu-jeon Hall, you’ll find a statue of Amita-bul (The Buddha of the Western Paradise) on the main altar. To the left of the main altar is another altar inside the Myeongbu-jeon Hall. This shrine is dedicated to a golden Jijang-bosal (The Bodhisattva of the Afterlife). And in the far right corner is a reliquary that houses a single sari (crystallized remain) of the Buddha, Seokgamoni-bul. This sari shrine is backed by a reproduction of a folding screen with Nahan (The Historical Disciples of the Buddha) adorning it.
To the left rear of the Daejeokgwang-jeon Hall, and on a ridge, you’ll find the Sanshin-gak Hall. The exterior walls are adorned with dongja (attendants) near the entry of the shaman shrine hall. The exterior walls are also adorned with beautiful floral paintings like those of peonies. Stepping inside the Sanshin-gak Hall, you’ll find a solitary painting dedicated to Sanshin (The Mountain Spirit). This is an older painting dedicated to the Mountain Spirit. The bald-headed image of Sanshin is joined by the fierce eyes of the accompanying tigers.
How To Get There
While you can get to Illaksa Temple from the Seosan Bus Terminal using public transportation, it would take you hours. So the easiest way outside owning your own mode of transportation is to take a taxi. The taxi ride should take about 20 minutes and cost you anywhere between 20,000 won to 25,000 won (one way).
Overall Rating: 6/10
Illaksa Temple is scenically located is southern Seosan, Chungcheongnam-do. In addition to its scenic beauty, you can also enjoy the older Sanshin (Mountain Spirit) painting inside the Sanshin-gak Hall, the interior of the Daejeokgwang-jeon Hall that includes the provincial treasure of Birojana-bul (The Buddha of Cosmic Energy), as well as the exterior wall paintings of the main hall. There are some rather unique paintings dedicated to Podae-hwasang (The Hempen Bag) and the Bodhidharma.













