-
Sajasan Sect – Heungnyeongsa-ji Temple Site (Yeongwol, Gangwon-do)
The Sajasan sect was located at Heungnyeongsa-ji Temple Site in Yeongwol, Gangwon-do. Now the temple is known as Beopheungsa Temple, and it’s also a Jeokmyeol-bogung site (a shrine containing sari relics of the Historical Buddha, Seokgamoni-bul, as established by the monk Jajang-yulsa), as well. The temple was first founded by the monk Doyun (798-868 A.D.). Doyun’s posthumous name is Cheolgam. For the longest time, Doyun resided at Ssangbongsa Temple in Hwasun, Jeollanam-do. For this reason, Doyun is also known as Ssangbong. Doyun’s family name was Bak, and his mother was from the Go clan. Before Doyun was born, his mother had a dream. In this dream, the sleeping chamber she…
-
Chukseosa Temple – 축서사 (Bonghwa, Gyeongsangbuk-do)
Temple History Chukseosa Temple is located in Bonghwa, Gyeongsangbuk-do to the west of Mt. Munsusan (1,207.3). Chukseosa Temple was first founded in 673 A.D. by the famed monk Uisang-daesa (625-702 A.D.). The name of the temple, “Chukseo” is in reference to Mt. Yeongchuksan. And Mt. Yeongchuksan means “Vulture Peak,” or “Holy Eagle Peak” in English. This was the site where the Buddha gave certain sermons in India. Among these sermons are the Heart Sutra and the Lotus Sutra. More specifically, the “Chukseo” in the temple name is in reference to eagles and how eagles mean wisdom in Buddhism. And this wisdom is in reference to the Bodhisattva of Wisdom, Munsu-bosal,…
-
Seongjusan Sect – Seongjusa-ji Temple Site (Boryeong, Chungcheongnam-do)
The Seongjusan sect was located out of present-day Boryeong, Chungcheongnam-do at Seongjusa Temple. This temple was already established in 616 A.D. through the orders of King Mu of Baekje (r. 600-641 A.D.). The temple was originally named Ohapsa Temple. The reason for this name was to help commemorate the recent victory over the neighbouring Silla and to pray for the souls of soldiers that had died during the conflict. As Prof. Mason points out on his former website, “The Samguk-Yusa records that in 659, during the reign of the final King Uija (의자왕), a ‘Red Goblin’ (hong dokkebi) was seen circumambulating this temple 6 times (an inauspicious number), and then…
-
Dongnisan Sect – Taeansa Temple (Gokseong, Jeollanam-do)
The Dongnisan sect was founded at Taeansa Temple in Gokseong in present-day Jeollanam-do. The temple was first founded by Master Hyecheol (785-861 A.D.). Hyecheol’s family name was Bak, and he was from Gyeongju. He was born in 785 A.D., and he became a monk at Buseoksa Temple. In 814 A.D., he traveled to Tang China (618–690, 705–907 A.D.) to help further his Buddhist studies. There, he received the dharma from Zhizang (735-814 A.D.). Master Hyecheol returned to Silla in 839 A.D., where he started to lecture at Mt. Dongnisan. In 861 A.D., Master Hyecheol died. His posthumous name is Jeokin, and his stupa’s name, which can be found at Taeansa…
-
Mujangsa-ji Temple Site – 무장사지 (Gyeongju)
Temple Site History Mujangsa-ji Temple Site is located in a long valley in Amgok-dong, Gyeongju. According to the Samguk Yusa, Mujangsa Temple was built by Kim Hyo-yang, who was the father of King Wonseong (r. 785-798 A.D.), in memory of his uncle. As for the name of the temple, Mujangsa Temple, it comes from a story related to King Muyeol of Silla (r. 654-661 A.D.). King Muyeol of Silla is credited with first attempting to unify the entire Korean peninsula by first defeating the Baekje Kingdom in 660 A.D. But before he could completely unify the Korean peninsula, King Muyeol died in 661 A.D. Instead, the defeat of the Goguryeo…
-
Sagulsan Sect – Gulsansa-ji Temple Site (Gangneung, Gangwon-do)
The Sagulsan sect was founded by National Preceptor Beomil (810-889 A.D.) during the reign of King Munseong of Silla (r. 839-857 A.D.). At the time of the Nine Mountain Schools of Seon, the Sagulsan sect, which was located out of Gulsansa Temple in Gangneung, Gangwon-do, was the most prosperous of the nine. Beomil was also known as Pumil, and he received the posthumous title of Tonghyo. Beomil’s family name was Kim, and his mother belonged to the Ji clan. He was born in 810 A.D. after his mother was pregnant for an astounding thirteen months. When he was born, he was said to have a conch-tuft on top of his…
-
Simwonsa Temple – 심원사 (Seongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do)
Temple History Simwonsa Temple is located in the northeastern part of Gayasan National Park in Seongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do. In fact, Simwonsa Temple isn’t all that far away from the famed Haeinsa Temple, which is also located in Gayasan National Park. It’s believed that Simwonsa Temple was first founded during Unified Silla (668-935 A.D.) some time in the 8th century. Yi Sung-in, who was also known under the pen-name of Doeun, and who was born in Seongju during the Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392), wrote about the temple in one of his poems entitled “Gimsimwonjeongro.” In this poem, he describes the temple as “The ancient temple, Simwonsa Temple, stands on Mt. Gayasan.” Additionally, and…
-
Gimnyongsa Temple – 김룡사 (Mungyeong, Gyeongsangbuk-do)
Temple History Gimnyongsa Temple is located in Mungyeong, Gyeongsangbuk-do to the southeast of Mt. Undalsan (1,103.2 m). The temple was first built in 588 A.D. by the monk Undal-josa. Originally, the temple was named Unbongsa Temple. However, there are several legends associated with the temple, one of which, gives the temple its name. According to this legend, there was a man with the surname Kim that was the local magistrate. Kim committed a crime while in office, so he hid in the mountains under Unbongsa Temple. He would frequently visit the temple to help quell the feelings of regret that he had. During this time, Kim met a young woman.…
-
Yeongguksa Temple – 영국사 (Yeongdong, Chungcheongbuk-do)
Temple History Yeongguksa Temple is located in Yeongdong, Chungcheongbuk-do on the eastern slopes of Mt. Cheontaesan (715.2 m). Yeongguksa Temple dates back to the late Silla (57 B.C. – 668 A.D.) or early Unified Silla (668-935 A.D.). One theory states that the temple was first founded during the reign of King Jinpyeong of Silla (r. 579-632 A.D.), while another theory states that it was first constructed during the reign of King Munmu of Silla (r. 661-681 A.D.). Either way, it does seem like that it dates back to around this time period in Korean history. Originally, the mountain where the temple is situated was first called Mt. Jiruksan; however, when…
-
Gajisan Sect – Borimsa Temple (Jangheung, Jeollanam-do)
The Gajisan sect was located out of Borimsa Temple in Jangheung, in present-day Jeollanam-do. The sect was first established during the reign of King Heonan of Silla (r. 857-861) by Master Doui. Master Doui’s family name was Wang. Doui’s father dreamed that a white rainbow entered into the sleeping chamber of where his mother was sleeping. His mother also had a dream. Her dream was of a saintly monk sitting down. After these two dreams, Doui’s mother became pregnant. And rather remarkably, which goes against everything we know about biology, Doui’s mother gave birth to him after thirty-nine months of pregnancy. Master Doui would eventually become a monk and be…