-
Byeoksongsa Temple – 벽송사 (Hamyang, Gyeongsangnam-do)
Temple History Byeoksongsa Temple is located in southern Hamyang, Gyeongsangnam-do in the northern portion of Jirisan National Park. The name of the temple means “Green Pines Temple” in English. It’s believed that the temple was first founded during the early Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910). The temple was constructed under the guidance of the monk Byeoksong-jieom-daesa (1464-1534). And it’s from this monk that the temple gets its name. Byeoksongsa Temple became known for its ties to Seon Buddhism. During the Joseon Dynasty, Byeoksongsa Temple became a centre for the study of Seon Buddhism. Many notable monks practiced at Byeoksongsa Temple including Seosan-daesa (1520 – 1604). Of the monks that practiced at Byeoksongsa…
-
Yeonhosa Temple – 연호사 (Hapcheon, Gyeongsangnam-do)
Temple History Yeonhosa Temple is located along the Hwanggang River in southern Hapcheon, Gyeongsangnam-do. The temple was first built in 643 A.D. by the monk Wau-seonsa, who built the temple to pacify the spirits of King Muyeol of Silla’s son-in-law Kim Pum-seok (?-642 A.D.), his wife, their children, and thousands of Silla soldiers. Kim and his soldiers died during the Battle of Daeyaseong Fortress (642 A.D.), which was part of a much larger engagement between the forces of the Baekje Kingdom (18 B.C. – 660 A.D.) and the Silla Kingdom (57 B.C. – 935 A.D.), which was known as the Battle of the Great Wilderness (642 A.D.). In total, two…
-
Moeunam Hermitage – 모은암 (Gimhae, Gyeongsangnam-do)
Hermitage History Moeunam Hermitage is located on the western slopes of Mt. Mucheoksan (702.5 m) in northern Gimhae, Gyeongsangnam-do. The temple’s founding is linked to two legends. One legend suggests that King Geodeung of Geumgwan Gaya, who was the second king of Geumgwan Gaya (43–532 A.D.), built Moeunam Hermitage to honour his mother, Queen Heo Hwang-ok (32 A.D. – 189 A.D.). The other foundational legend, which is found in the “Sungseonjeonji,” claims that King Suro of Geumgwan Gaya (? – 199 A.D.), who was the founding king of Geumgwan Gaya, established the temple as a memorial temple to pay tribute to his mother. Of the two, however, it would seem…
-
Geumbongam Hermitage – 금봉암 (Geochang, Gyeongsangnam-do)
Hermitage History Geumbongam Hermitage is located to the south of Mt. Sambongsan (1,255 m) in northern Geochang, Gyeongsangnam-do. The mountain is also known as “Little Geumgangsan” because its landscape is said to resemble one of the peaks of Mt. Geumgangsan. As for the name of the hermitage, it doesn’t mean “Golden Peak Hermitage;” instead, and if one looks at the Chinese characters of the hermitage name (金鳳庵), it means “Golden Phoenix Hermitage” in English. The name of the hermitage is derived from the idea of the phoenix being a symbol of auspiciousness. In particular, Geumbongam Hermitage is believed to represent the place where only the mythical golden phoenix would rest,…
-
Hoguksa Temple – 호국사 (Jinju, Gyeongsangnam-do)
Temple History Hoguksa Temple is located inside the walls of Jinju Fortress, which is a Historic Site, near the Jinju National Museum in Jinju, Gyeongsangnam-do. The name of the temple means “Protection of Nation Temple” in English. The city of Jinju used to be a military base that helped oppose the Japanese military forces in the late Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392). It helped prevent the enemy from entering into Jeolla-do Province. During the Imjin War (1592-98), in 1592, about 3,800 soldiers under the command of General Kim Si-min (1554-1592) defeated about 30,000 Japanese soldiers at Jinju Fortress. Included in Gen. Kim’s army were monks who had trained at the temple. In…
-
Hwabangsa Temple – 화방사 (Namhae, Gyeongsangnam-do)
Temple History Hwabangsa Temple is situated in the northern part of Namhae, Gyeongsangnam-do, and it looks out towards the South Sea. To the north, you’ll find Mt. Sambongsan (422.1 m); and to the south, you’ll find Mt. Mangunsan (784.9 m). Of the two, Hwabangsa Temple is located on Mt. Mangunsan. It’s believed that Hwabangsa Temple was first built during the Silla Dynasty (57 B.C. – 935 A.D.). In fact, Hwabangsa Temple was first established during the reign of King Sinmun of Silla (r. 681–692). The temple was first established by Wonhyo-daesa (617-686 A.D.) after he built Bogwangsa Temple on Mt. Geumsan. Bogwangsa Temple is now known as Boriam Hermitage. When…
-
Yongchusa Temple – 용추사 (Hamyang, Gyeongsangnam-do)
Temple History Yongchusa Temple is located up a long valley in northern Hamyang, Gyeongsangnam-do. The name of the temple, Yongchusa Temple, means “Dragon Pool Temple” in English. The temple was first founded in 487 A.D. by the monk Gakyeon-daesa, and it was originally known as Yongchuam Hermitage. It was built with the instruction to “practice and teach with a steadfast heart.” Yongchuam Hermitage was one of ten hermitages directly associated with Jangsusa Temple, which was located to the north. During the late Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392), the monk Muhak (1327-1405) renovated the temple and used it as a place of worship. In 1680, and during the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), Yongchusa Temple…
-
Daeseongsa Temple – 대성사 (Seocho-gu, Seoul)
Temple History Daeseongsa Temple is located in Seocho-gu, Seoul to the east of Mt. Umyeonsan (293 m) and behind the Seoul Arts Center. In 384 A.D., Buddhism was introduced officially to the Baekje Kingdom (18 B.C. – 660 A.D.). An Indian monk named Marananta (fl. late 4th century) crossed the sea from the Eastern Jin Dynasty (317–420 A.D.), where he arrived in the capital of Baekje. King Chimnyu of Baekje (r. 384-385 A.D.) welcomed Marananta to the palace. The following year, ten Baekje citizens were ordained as Buddhist monks. However, while Marananta traveled through Central Asia and China to Baekje, he suffered from illnesses caused by the unfamiliar food and…
-
Yeonjiam Hermitage – 연지암 (Gyeongju)
Hermitage History and Legend Yeonjiam Hermitage is located in southeastern Gyeongju. The hermitage was first founded during the latter part of Japanese Colonial Rule (1910-45) by a Buddhist laywoman named Kim Yeonji. According to the hermitage legend, Kim had a dream in which the sound of a wooden hand bell, or moktak in Korean, was coming from the middle of a field. When Kim went to this field, she started digging. It was during this dig that she discovered a statue of Yaksayeorae-bul (The Medicine Buddha, and the Buddha of the Eastern Paradise). This would end up being the “Standing Stone Buddha Statue in Hwalseong-ri, Gyeongju,” which is a provincial…
-
Gwaneumsa Temple – 관음사 (Gwanak-gu, Seoul)
Temple History Gwaneumsa Temple, which shouldn’t be confused with the dozens of other temples with the exact same name in Korea, is located in Gwanak-gu, Seoul in the northern slopes of Mt. Gwanaksan (632.2 m). The name of the temple is in reference to Gwanseeum-bosal (The Bodhisattva of Compassion). The temple was first founded in 895 A.D. by the famed monk Doseon-guksa (826-898 A.D.). The temple was originally constructed as a “Bibosa” temple. Bibosa temples were built as temples based upon the idea of protecting the nation. This idea held that by establishing temples in auspicious locations and offering prayers that the nation would prosper. These principles were based upon…