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Cheongamsa Temple – 청암사 (Gimcheon, Gyeongsangbuk-do)
Temple History Cheongamsa Temple is located in southern Gimcheon, Gyeongsangbuk-do to the north of Mt. Sudosan (1,317.3 m). The story of Cheongamsa Temple is one of being built, destroyed, and being rebuilt, once more. In total, Cheongamsa Temple was rebuilt a total of five times. The temple was first established in 859 A.D. by the famed monk Doseon-guksa (826-898 A.D.). Little is known about Cheongamsa Temple during the Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392) and the early part of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910). In 1647, the temple was completely destroyed by fire. The temple was later reconstructed by the monks Heojeong-hwasang and Hwanu-daesa. After Cheongamsa Temple was reconstructed, it was nothing more than…
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Anyangam Hermitage – 안양암 (Yangsan, Gyeongsangnam-do)
Hermitage History Anyangam Hermitage is located on the Tongdosa Temple grounds in Yangsan, Gyeongsangnam-do. The name of the hermitage means “Peace Bright Hermitage” in English. It’s unknown as to when the hermitage was first built, but it was repaired in 1295 by the monk Chanin. Anyangam Hermitage was later repaired in 1865, as well. The view that Anyangam Hermitage enjoys of Mt. Yeongchuksan (1,081 m) to the north and Tongdosa Temple to the east is designated as one of the eight most scenic sights on the Tongdosa Temple grounds. Anyangam Hermitage is home to two Gyeongsangnam-do Tangible Cultural Properties. The first is the Shinjung Taenghwa (Guardian Mural) that dates back…
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Botaam Hermitage – 보타암 (Yangsan, Gyeongsangnam-do)
Hermitage History Botaam Hermitage is located on the Tongdosa Temple grounds in Yangsan, Gyeongsangnam-do. There is one story about the founding of the hermitage that states that it was created by the monk Yeongchun in 1927. And later, the nuns Jaedeok and Hojeon moved to Botaam Hermitage from a cave in Wondong. Another story states that it was simply created by the nuns Jaedeok and Hojeon in 1927. And yet another story states that while Yeongchun was residing at Tongdosa Temple, he moved to the location of Botaam Hermitage under the recommendation of the monk Gyeongbong. It was after this that Yeongchun called the newly built hermitage Botaam Hermitage. As…
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Jijokam Hermitage – 지족암 (Hapcheon, Gyeongsangnam-do)
Hermitage History Jijokam Hermitage is located on the Haeinsa Temple grounds in Hapcheon, Gyeongsangnam-do in Gayasan National Park. Originally, Jijokam Hermitage was first named Dosolam Hermitage. The word “Jijok” is an abbreviation of the Sanskrit transliteration of the word “Tusita,” which is the Pure Land of Mireuk-bul (The Future Buddha). Originally, the hermitage was nothing more than a solitary hut for the monk Huirang-josa, who was a monk that was active during the late Silla Dynasty (57 B.C. – 935 A.D.) and the start of the Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392). Although there are no specific records indicating how the hermitage was maintained throughout the centuries, we do have several pieces of…
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Naewonsa Temple – 내원사 (Yangsan, Gyeongsangnam-do)
Temple History Naewonsa Temple is located up the beautiful Naewonsa Valley beneath the peaks of Mt. Cheonseongsan (920.1 m) in Yangsan, Gyeongsangnam-do. The temple was first founded by Wonhyo-daesa (617-686 A.D.) during the reign of King Munmu of Silla (r. 661-681 A.D.). According to a legend written in the “Songgoseungjeon” (僧傳 宋), there were 1,000 Chinese monks worshiping at Taehwasa Temple in Tang China (618–690, 705–907 A.D.). They were in danger of being buried at the temple because of torrential rain and the potential for a landslide. Upon realizing this, Wonhyo-daesa threw a wooden board up into the air. The monks saw this strange board in midair and thought that…
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Yaksuam Hermitage – 약수암 (Hapcheon, Gyeongsangnam-do)
Hermitage History Yaksuam Hermitage is located on the Haeinsa Temple grounds in the foothills of Mt. Gayasan (1,433 m) in Hapcheon, Gyeongsangnam-do. Yaksuam Hermitage was first founded in 1904 by the monk Seongju. Yaksuam Hermitage was later rebuilt in 1927. Currently, the hermitage is a home to nuns (비구니). Hermitage Layout You’ll make your way past large, mature trees, a high stone wall, and an auxiliary building, before coming to the entry gate at Yaksuam Hermitage. Stepping inside the main hermitage courtyard, you’ll find what almost looks to be the nuns’ dorms straight ahead of you; but instead, this is the Daeung-jeon Hall at Yaksuam Hermitage. There are other entrances…
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Wondangam Hermitage – 원당암 (Hapcheon, Gyeongsangnam-do)
Hermitage History Wondangam Hermitage is located on the Haeinsa Temple grounds in Hapcheon, Gyeongsangnam-do across the bridge from Hongjeam Hermitage. The hermitage was first built as a staging site to build neighbouring Haeinsa Temple in 802 A.D. Additionally, the hermitage has a royal connection. According to one legend, the two founding monks of Haeinsa Temple, Suneung and Ijeong, who were disciples of Uisang-daesa (625-702 A.D.), helped heal the wife of King Aejang of Silla (r. 800 – 809 A.D.). Additionally, it’s believed that these two monks were royal descendants of Daegaya. Suneung and Ijeong studied Esoteric Buddhism, or Chongji-jong in Korean, while in Tang China (618–690, 705–907 A.D.). Purportedly, the wife of King Aejang…
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Nojeonam Hermitage – 노전암 (Yangsan, Gyeongsangnam-do)
Hermitage History Nojeonam Hermitage is located in a beautiful valley on the northwestern side of Mt. Cheonseongsan (920.1 m) in Yangsan, Gyeongsangnam-do. Nojeonam Hermitage is a hermitage for nuns. According to legend, Wonhyo-daesa (617-686 A.D.) travelled with his 1,000 disciples to this part of Korea. In total, it’s said that Wonhyo-daesa built some 89 hermitages in and around Mt. Cheonseongsan during the Silla Dynasty (57 B.C. – 935 A.D.). However, the exact date of the hermitage’s founding is unknown. Nojeonam Hermitage was later restored during the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) during the reign of King Sunjo of Joseon (r. 1800-1834). It was rebuilt at this time by the monk Taehui. Originally,…
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Living History – David A. Mason (Professor – 1982)
One of the great things about running a website about Korean Buddhist temples is that you get to meet a lot of amazing people. And a lot of these amazing people have varying backgrounds, interests, and insights. Rather amazingly, some of these people first visited Korea in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. Here are their stories! *Editor’s Note: You can take a tour with David A. Mason to any temple in Korea. He is a wonderful tour guide. He has been doing it for decades, and it shows in both his professionalism and insights. To contact Prof. Mason for any of his tours, you can either contact him through Facebook or through…
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Cheongnyangsa Temple – 청량사 (Hapcheon, Gyeongsangnam-do)
Temple History Cheongnyangsa Temple is located at the entrance of Gaysasan National Park below Namsan Jeilbong Peak (1,054.3 m) in Hapcheon, Gyeongsangnam-do. The exact date of the temple’s foundation is unknown. However, there is a record about the temple from the “Samguk Sagi,” or the “History of the Three Kingdoms” in English. According to the “Samguk Sagi,” Choi Chiwon (857 A.D. – 10th century), the philosopher, poet and calligrapher stayed at Cheongnyangsa Temple. As a result, it can be surmised that the temple was built before Choi Chiwon’s visit sometime during the Silla Dynasty (57 B.C. – 935 A.D.). According to an oral tradition, the temple was built before Haeinsa…