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Colonial Korea – Donghwasa Temple
Temple History Donghwasa Temple is located on the southern slopes of Mt. Palgongsan (1193 m) in Dong-gu, Daegu. The name of the temple means “Paulownia Blossom Temple” in English. Originally, the temple was built in 493 A.D. by the monk Geukdal and was named Yugasa Temple. However, it was later rebuilt in 832 A.D. by the monk Simji. The name of the temple refers to a legend around the time of this reconstruction. According to this legend, and during the dead of winter, wild paulownia trees were in bloom all around Donghwasa Temple during the temple’s reconstruction. This was thought of as an auspicious sign. According to the Samguk-yusa, or Memorabilia…
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Unbuam Hermitage – 운부암 (Yeongcheon, Gyeongsangbuk-do)
Hermitage History Unbuam Hemritage is one of the several hermitages on the Eunhaesa Temple grounds. It’s located to the east of Mt. Palgongsan (1,192.3 m) in western Yeongcheon, Gyeongsangbuk-do. Originally, the hermitage was built by Uisang-daesa (625-702 A.D.) in 711 A.D. However, since Uisang-daesa was already dead when the hermitage was first founded, it’s highly questionable that he was founding any hermitages after his death. What is more likely is that it was first founded in 809 A.D. by the monk Hyecheol-guksa (785-861 A.D.), who was also the founder of Eunhaesa Temple in 809 A.D., as well. As for the reason that the temple is called Unbuam Hermitage, it’s because…
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Four Lion Three-Story Stone Pagoda in Gwaeseok-ri – 홍천 괘석리 사사자 삼층석탑 (Hongcheon, Gangwon-do)
Pagoda History The Four Lion Three-Story Stone Pagoda in Gwaeseok-ri is currently located out in front of the county office in Hongcheon, Gangwon-do. The pagoda was moved to this new location in 1969. Formerly, it was housed at a temple site in Gwaeseok-ri, Duchon-myeon, Gangwon-do. However, the former temple site is now used as a farmer’s field. In addition to the Four Lion Three-Story Stone Pagoda in Gwaeseok-ri, the temple site had a few roof tile shards strewn throughout its grounds. The Four Lion Three-Story Stone Pagoda in Gwaeseok-ri was declared Korean Treasure #540 in July, 1971. Pagoda Design The Four Lion Three-Story Stone Pagoda in Gwaeseok-ri is located to…
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Okcheonsa Temple – 옥천사 (Goseong, Gyeongsangnam-do)
Temple History Okcheonsa Temple, which means “Jade Springs Temple” in English, is located in Goseong, Gyeongsangnam-do. Okcheonsa Temple dates back to 676 A.D., when it was first established by Uisang-daesa (625-702 A.D.). Okcheonsa Temple was one of the Hwaeom-shipchal (The Ten Great Hwaeom Temples) alongside such temples as Buseoksa Temple, Haeinsa Temple, Hwaeomsa Temple, Gapsa Temple, Beomeosa Temple, Bulguksa Temple, and Bongjeongsa Temple. For these efforts, Uisang-daesa is also known as the “Temple Builder.” Rather interestingly, and according to Choi Chiwon (857–10th century), nearby Ssanggyesa Temple was originally named Okcheonsa Temple, when it was first founded in 722 A.D. But because Okcheonsa Temple in Goseong, Gyeongsangnam-do predated the founding of…
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Colonial Korea – Beomeosa Temple
Temple History Beomeosa Temple is located on the northeast side of Mt. Geumjeongsan (801.5 m) in Geumjeong-gu, Busan. Beomeosa Temple means “Nirvana Fish Temple” in English. Beomeosa Temple was first established in 678 A.D. by the famed monk, and temple builder, Uisang-daesa (625-702 A.D.). The temple was first established as one of the ten major temples of the Hwaeom School. These ten are known as Ten Monasteries of Hwaeom, or the Hwaeom Sipchal in Korean. The name of the temple is related to the location of Beomeosa Temple. Beomeosa Temple is located in the foothills of Mt. Geumjeongsan, which means “Golden Well Mountain” in English. The name of the mountain comes from…
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Daewonsa Temple – 대원사 (Sancheong, Gyeongsangnam-do)
Temple History Daewonsa Temple in Sancheong, Gyeongsangnam-do, which shouldn’t be confused with the numerous other temples in Korea with the same name, is located in the northeastern part of Jirisan National Park. Daewonsa Temple was first founded in 548 A.D. by Yeongi-josa, who also founded Hwaeomsa Temple in 544 A.D. and Yeongoksa Temple in 543 A.D. It’s believed that Yeongi-josa was from India. Originally, the temple was called Pyeongwonsa Temple. Then during the mid-600s, Jajang-yulsa (590-685 A.D.) purportedly built the Multi-Story Stone Pagoda of Daewonsa Temple. For the next 1,000 years, the temple ceased to exist. Eventually, the temple was rebuilt only to be destroyed in 1592 by the invading…
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Colonial Korea – Geumsansa Temple
Temple History Geumsansa Temple, which means “Golden Mountain Temple” in English, is located in a flat river valley on the western slopes of Moaksan Provincial Park in Gimje, Jeollabuk-do. Geumsansa Temple was first established in either 599 or 600 A.D., depending on the source, during the reign of King Beop of Baekje (r. 599-600 A.D.). When it was first built, it was rather unassuming and nothing like it is today. It wasn’t until 762 A.D., under the guidance of the monk Jinpyo (8th century), that Geumsansa Temple was rebuilt. Geumsansa Temple was rebuilt over a six year period. Numerous buildings at the temple were rebuilt at this time including the original Mireuk-jeon Hall, which was built in 766…
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Baekheungam Hermitage – 백흥암 (Yeongcheon, Gyeongsangbuk-do)
Hermitage History Baekheungam Hermitage is located in Yeongcheon, Gyeongsangbuk-do on the temple grounds of Eunhaesa Temple. In fact, if you continue to travel west upon one of the temple roads, you’ll come to Baekheungam Hermitage. Baekheungam Hermitage was first founded in 861 A.D., some fifty years after Eunhaesa Temple was first established in 809 A.D. When the hermitage was first founded, it was called Baekjisa Temple. The original name came from the fact that pine nuts were often found around the hermitage grounds. For several hundred years, there were no records related to Baekheungam Hermitage. It’s not until the early Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) that we learn more about this hermitage.…
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Colonial Korea – Beopjusa Temple
Temple History Beopjusa Temple is situated in Songnisan National Park to the north-east of Boeun-gun, Chungcheongbuk-do. Beopjusa Temple means, “Dharma Residence Temple” in English. According to the Dongguk-yeoji-seungnam, or the “Survey of the Geography of Korea” in English, Beopjusa Temple was first founded in 553 A.D. by the monk Uisin. After traveling to India to learn more about Buddhism, Uisan returned to the Korean Peninsula with Indian Buddhist scriptures. Carrying these scriptures on a white donkey, he housed these texts at the temple he was to build: Beopjusa Temple. According to historical documents, the famed monk Jinpyo (8th century) returned to the Mt. Songnisan area and marked a location where it was…
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Jeongchwiam Hermitage – 정취암 (Sancheong, Gyeongsangnam-do)
Hermitage History Jeongchwiam Hermitage is located in eastern Sancheong, Gyeongsangnam-do in the foothills of Mt. Daeseongsan. Additionally, the hermitage is located within the northern boundaries of Jirisan National Park. The hermitage was first founded in 686 A.D. by Uisang-daesa (625-702 A.D.). According to a hermitage legend, during the 6th year of King Sinmun of Silla’s reign, which lasted from 681 to 692 A.D., Amita-bul (The Buddha of the Western Paradise) rose from the East Sea and shone two streams of light onto the Korean Peninsula. One of these beams of light shone on Mt. Geumgangsan (present-day North Korea) and the other beam of light shone on Mt. Daeseongsan. According to…