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Heungguksa Temple – 흥국사 (Goyang, Gyeonggi-do)
Temple History Heungguksa Temple is located in Goyang, Gyeonggi-do just outside the city limits of Seoul and the park boundaries of Bukhansan National Park. The temple is believed to have first been established in 661 A.D. by the famed monk Wonhyo-daesa (617-686 A.D.). After practicing at neighbouring Wonhyoam Hermitage, Wonhyo-daesa decided to also build Heungseongam Hermitage, which is located some three kilometres away. Wonhyo-daesa noticed auspicious energy rising from the western foothills of Mt. Hansan for three consecutive days. Upon further investigation, Wonhyo-daesa found that a seated image of Yaksayeorae-bul (The Buddha of Medicine) had emerged from the ground at the current site of the Yaksa-jeon Hall at Heungguksa Temple.…
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Bogwangsa Temple – 보광사 (Paju, Gyeonggi-do)
Temple History Bogwangsa Temple is located in eastern Paju, Gyeonggi-do to the west of Mt. Goryeongsan (621.1 m). Bogwangsa Temple was first founded in 894 A.D. by the famed monk Doseon-guksa (826-898 A.D.) as a national treasure temple (국가비보사찰) following a royal command. In 1215, the monk Wonjin renovated the temple, and the monk Beopmin enshrined five Buddha and Bodhisattva statues inside the main hall. This was followed in 1388 by the monk Muhak (1327–1405) renovating the temple, once more. Bogwangsa Temple was completely destroyed by fire during the Imjin War (1592-98). The temple would eventually be rebuilt in 1622 by the monks Seolmi and Deokin. In 1631, the monk…
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Jingwansa Temple – 진관사 (Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul)
Temple History Jingwansa Temple is located in the southwestern part of Bukhansan National Park in Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul. It’s claimed that Jingwansa Temple was first built during the reign of Queen Jindeok of Silla (r. 647–654 A.D.) as a small temple known as Sinhyeolsa Temple. It would be rebuilt much larger in 1010 and renamed Jingwansa Temple. Jingwansa Temple was built by King Hyeonjong of Goryeo (r. 1009-1031) in appreciation of the Buddhist monk Jingwan, who had saved the life of the king during his ascension to the throne. More specifically, King Mokjong of Goryeo (r. 997-1009) didn’t have a son, so Wang Sun (future King Hyeongjong of Goryeo) was named…
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Samcheonsa Temple – 삼천사 (Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul)
Temple History Samcheonsa Temple is located in Bukhansan National Park to the north of neighbouring Jingwansa Temple in Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul. Additionally, Samcheonsa Temple is situated in the very scenic Samcheonsa-gaegok Valley. There are very few historical records about Samcheonsa Temple, so it’s difficult to pinpoint an exact date as to when the temple was first founded; however, it’s claimed that Wonhyo-daesa (617-686 A.D.) first founded the temple in 661 A.D. Since the temple’s founding, a detailed history of the temple is unknown. In the “Goryeosa,” which was first published in 1451, it claims that the monks of Samcheonsa Temple were found to have made alcohol from rice and were punished…
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Bomunsa Temple – 보문사 (Ganghwa, Incheon)
Temple History Bomunsa Temple is located on Seongmo-do Island to the west of Ganghwa-do Island. However, while Bomunsa Temple is located on Seongmo-do Island, it’s apart of Ganghwa County in Incheon. The temple is located to the south of Mt. Nakgasan (235 m). Mt. Nakgasan is a transliteration of Mt. Potalaka, which is the mythical dwelling of Gwanseeum-bosal (The Bodhisattva of Compassion). As for Bomunsa Temple, it means “Universal Gate Temple” in English. Bomunsa Temple was first founded in 635 A.D. by the monk Hoejeong-daesa. In 649 A.D., twenty-two images of Buddhas and Nahan (Historical Disciples of the Buddha) were enshrined inside the Nahan-jeon cave shrine hall. Little is known…
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Jeondeungsa Temple – 전등사 (Ganghwa, Incheon)
Temple History Jeondeungsa Temple, which means “Transmitting (Dharma) Light Temple” in English, is thought to be the oldest extant Buddhist temple in Korea. It’s located in Ganghwa-do Island in Incheon. It was first built in 381 A.D. by the monk Ado-hwasang. The monk Ado-hwasang arrived on Ganghwa-do Island from Jin Dynasty (266–420 A.D.) to spread Buddhism to the Silla Kingdom (57 B.C. – 935 A.D.). While Ado-hwasang was staying on Ganghwa-do Island, he built a temple on the future Jeondeungsa Temple site. This temple was originally known as Jinjongsa Temple. However, very little is known about the history of the temple until the mid-Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392). It’s not until 1259…
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Cheongnyangsa Temple – 청량사 (Gangseo-gu, Busan)
Temple History Cheongnyangsa Temple is located south of the Gimhae International Airport near the Nakdong River in Gangseo-gu, Busan. Purportedly, Cheongnyangsa Temple is located in one of the best locations in Korea for pungsu-jiri (geomancy, feng shui). Originally, the temple was nothing more than a village shrine dedicated to the village guardian, Dangsan (Village Guardian Spirit). Also, Cheongnyangsa Temple is one of the 973 traditional Buddhist temples in Korea. Floods and landslides in 1864 and 1865 helped form the area where Cheongnyangsa Temple is currently located. More specifically, it’s said that when a natural disaster strikes Myeongji-dong, which is where the temple is located, people can hear the sound of…
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Wolbongsa Temple – 월봉사 (Dong-gu, Busan)
Temple History Wolbongsa Temple is located in Dong-gu, Busan to the south of Mt. Gubongsan (404.5 m). Additionally, Wolbongsa Temple is scenically located with the Port of Busan and the Namhang Bridge off in the distance. It’s unclear when Wolbongsa Temple was first constructed. Temple Layout You first arrive at Wolbongsa Temple through a network of old Busan houses. When you finally do arrive at the temple, you’ll notice that Wolbongsa Temple is beautifully perched atop a compact temple courtyard that overlooks the Port of Busan. In fact, if you look close enough, you’ll notice the Namhang Bridge off in the distance, as well. Stepping into the temple courtyard, the…
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Wonhyoam Hermitage – 원효암 (Gyeongsan, Gyeongsangbuk-do)
Hermitage History Wonhyoam Hermitage, named after the famed Wonhyo-daesa (617-686 A.D.), is located in northern Gyeongsan, Gyeongsangbuk-do. There are numerous hermitages named after the famed Korean monk, so it should be noted that this Wonhyoam Hermitage is also located in the southeastern foothills of Mt. Palgongsan (1,192 m). Additionally, this Wonhyoam Hermitage is directly associated with Eunhaesa Temple. It’s believed that this Wonhyoam Hermitage dates back to 668 A.D. In addition to being known as Wonhyoam Hermitage, it’s also known as Naengcheonsa Temple because of the spring water that always flows with cold water no matter the season. It’s also believed that this is where Wonhyo-daesa meditated, as well. Very…
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Ilchulam Hermitage – 일출암 (Pohang, Gyeongsangbuk-do)
Hermitage History Ilchulam Hermitage, which is also known as the Ilchul-seonwon, is located just east of the airport in Pohang, Gyeongsangbuk-do and south of Mt. Unjangsan (234 m). The name of the hermitage means “Sunrise Hermitage” in English. Originally, the temple was first founded during the Silla Dynasty (57 B.C. – 935 A.D.), however, very little is known about the temple’s history and the specific year that it was first established. In 1914, the hermitage was rebuilt by the monk Hyegwang, who was visiting Girimsa Temple in Gyeongju. After this, a Buddhist academy was established at the hermitage to help protect traditional Korean Buddhism, which was under siege during Japanese…