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Yongmunsa Temple – 용문사 (Namhae, Gyeongsangnam-do)
Temple History Yongmunsa Temple, which is located in Namhae, Gyeongsangnam-do, means “Dragon Gate Temple” in English. Yongmunsa Temple was first constructed in a round about way by the famed monk Wonhyo-daesa (617-686 A.D.) in 663 A.D. Originally, when Wonhyo-daesa built the temple, it was called Bogwangsa Temple on Mt. Geumsan. The temple was later moved to its current location on Mt. Hogusan. It was at this time that the temple changed its name to Yongmunsa Temple. Yongmunsa Temple would eventually be completely destroyed during the Imjin War (1592-1598). Yongmunsa Temple would be rebuilt in 1666, when the Daeung-jeon Hall was built by the monk Baekwol. During the reign of King…
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Colonial Korea – Hwaeomsa Temple
Temple History Hwaeomsa Temple, which is located in Gurye, Jeollanam-do, is on the very south-western edge of the famed Jirisan National Park. Hwaeomsa Temple means “Flower Garland Temple” in English. Because of this name, it is directly linked to Gwanseeum-bosal (The Bodhisattva of Compassion). In Korean, the Flower Garland Sutra is known as “Hwaeom-gyeong – 화엄경.” And in Sanskrit, the sutra is known as the “Avataṃsaka Sūtra.” The temple was first founded in 544 A.D. by the monk Yeongi-josa, who’s believed to have come from India. The temple was then later expanded by Jajang-yulsa (590-648 A.D.) in 643 A.D. And during the reign of King Munmu of Silla (r.661-681 A.D.), the famous monk, Uisang-daesa (625-702 A.D.) inscribed eighty replicas…
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Gwaneumseonwon Hermitage – 관음선원 (Sangju, Gyeongsangbuk-do)
Hermitage History Gwaneumseonwon Hermitage is located in northwestern Sangju, Gyeongsangbuk-do in the southern foothills of Mt. Noeumsan (725.5 m). Gwaneumseonwon Hermitage is a hermitage directly associated with Namjangsa Temple; as such, it’s located some 300 metres north of Namjangsa Temple on the temple grounds. The name of the hermitage comes from the Bodhisattva Gwanseeum-bosal (The Bodhisattva of Compassion). It’s believed that the hermitage was first founded by Jingam as a meditation centre at the end of Unified Silla (668-935 A.D.). After its original construction, Gwaneumseonwon Hermitage was rebuilt several times including in 1668 and 1752. Later, and in 1797, the monk Boin rebuilt the Gwaneum-jeon Hall at the hermitage. This…
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Colonial Korea – Haeinsa Temple
Temple History Haeinsa Temple, which is located in Hapcheon, Gyeongsangnam-do, means “Ocean Seal Temple” in English. The name of the temple is in reference to the “Ocean Seal” samadhi (meditative consciousness) from the Avatamsaka Sutra, or “Flower Garland Sutra” in English, or “Hwaeom-gyeong” in Korean. The reason for this reference is the idea that the mind is like the surface of a perfectly calm sea. And it’s from this that the true image of our existence is clearly reflected and everything appears as it is. Alongside Tongdosa Temple in Yangsan, Gyeongsangnam-do and Songgwangsa Temple in Suncheon, Jeollanam-do, Haeinsa Temple forms the Three Jewel Temples (삼보사찰, or “Sambosachal” in English). Tongdosa Temple represents the Buddha, Songgwangsa Temple represents the Sangha, and Haeinsa Temple represents…
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Ganwolsa-ji Temple Site – 간월사지 (Ulju-gun, Ulsan)
Temple Site History The Ganwolsa-ji Temple Site is located in Ulju-gun, Ulsan in the eastern foothills of Mt. Ganwolsan (1,069.1 m) up a long valley. It’s believed that the original Ganwolsa Temple was first built by Jajang-yulsa (590-658 A.D.) during the reign of Queen Jindeok of Silla (r. 647-654 A.D.). Later, the temple was destroyed by the invading Japanese during the Imjin War (1592-1598) in 1592. Ganwolsa Temple would eventually be rebuilt in 1634 during the mid-Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910). The temple would last until 1836, when it seems as though the temple was abandoned after a large crop failure in the area and subsequent famine according to the Eonyang-hyeon Hojeokdaejang,…
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Colonial Korea – Buseoksa Temple
Temple History Buseoksa Temple, which means “Floating Rock Temple” in English, is located in Yeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do. It’s also one of Korea’s most famous temples. Buseoksa Temple is home to five National Treasures and five additional Korean Treasures. As for the temple itself, Buseoksa Temple was first established by the famed monk, Uisang-daesa (625-702 A.D.), under the royal decree of King Munmu of Silla (r. 661-681 A.D.), in 676 A.D. There were a few reasons for the Silla Kingdom’s royal support in establishing Buseoksa Temple. The first is that it would help promote the ideas behind Hwaeom (Huayan) Buddhism throughout the Korean Peninsula, and Buseoksa Temple would also act as the base to help spread the…
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Cheongsongsa-ji Temple Site – 청송사지 (Ulju-gun, Ulsan)
Temple Site History The Cheongsongsa-ji Temple Site is located in Ulju-gun, Ulsan between Mt. Munsusan (600.1 m) to the north and Mt. Namansan (544.3 m) to the south. Rather interestingly, the Cheongsongsa-ji Temple Site is also a current and active temple named Cheongsongsa Temple. Cheongsongsa Temple was first built during the reign of King Hyoso of Silla (r. 692-702 A.D.). At the time of its original construction, Cheongsongsa Temple was quite a large temple that was equivalent to the size of a small village where the temple is currently situated. It’s assumed that the temple was closed in the mid to late Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910). The reason for this belief…
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Colonial Korea – Bulguksa Temple
Temple History Bulguksa Temple is located at the western foot of Mt. Tohamsan (745 m) in eastern Gyeongju. Bulguksa Temple means “Buddha Kingdom Temple” in English. The name of Bulguksa Temple can have two possible meanings. The first is that traveling through the architectural landscape is like taking a journey through the spiritual realm of the Buddhas. So in a way, it’s an architectural manifestation of the celestial realm of the Buddhas on earth. And the second meaning is in reference to the Unified Silla (668-935 A.D.). More specifically, it’s a reference to the Unified Silla Kingdom building itself as a “Kingdom of Buddha.” In turn, this would help validate the Unified Silla Kingdom…
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Five-Story Stone Pagoda in Wanggung-ri – 익산 왕궁리 오층석탑 (Iksan, Jeollabuk-do)
Temple Site History The Five-Story Stone Pagoda in Wanggung-ri is located in northeastern Iksan, Jeollabuk-do in the the Archaeological Site in Wanggung-ri, which is a Historic Site. It is unknown as to when this pagoda was first built, whether it was during the Baekje Kingdom (18 B.C. – 660 A.D.), or during Unified Silla (668-935 A.D.), or during the Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392). However, what is known is that the pagoda was created in the typical Baekje Kingdom style. From 1965-66, the Five-Story Stone Pagoda in Wanggung-ri was dissembled and reassembled. Prior to this, the base of the pagoda was buried in the ground. In total, the large pagoda consists of…
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Colonial Korea – Tongdosa Temple
Temple History Tongdosa Temple, which is located in northern Yangsan, Gyeongsangnam-do, is the largest temple in all of Korea with nineteen hermitages spread throughout its vast grounds. Tongdosa Temple means “Passing Through to Enlightenment Temple” in English. Tongdosa Temple was first founded in 646 A.D. by the famed monk Jajang-yulsa (590-658 A.D.). According to the “Tongdosa-sarigasa-sajeok-yannok,” the temple site was originally a large pond, but it was covered over by landfill so as to allow for Tongdosa Temple to be built. Also, and according to the “Tongdosa-yakji,” the name of Mt. Yeongchuksan, which is where Tongdosa Temple is located, was named after the mountain in India where the Historical Buddha (Seokgamoni-bul) gave his…