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Bongeunsa Temple – 봉은사 (Gangnam-gu, Seoul)
Temple History Bongeunsa Temple in Gangnam, Seoul was first established in 794 A.D. by the monk, Yeonhoei. Originally, the temple was named Gyeongseongsa Temple. Later, in 1498, under Queen Jeonghyeon (1462-1530), the temple was renovated and renamed Bongeunsa Temple. At first, the temple was located about one kilometre southwest of its present location, but it was relocated during King Myeongjong’s reign (r.1545-1567). And during the 1960s, Bongeunsa Temple established the Institute of Tripitaka Koreana to translate the Buddhist scriptures. More recently, Bongeunsa Temple has been in a dispute with Seoul’s municipal government to potentially relocate it from its posh Gangnam neighbourhood. Temple Layout Bongeunsa temple is nestled next to Coex…
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Samneung-gol Valley – 삼릉골 (Gyeongju)
Valley Layout Samneung Valley, on the west side of Mt. Namsan (495.1m) in Gyeongju, means “Three Tombs Valley” in English. If Gyeongju is considered an outdoor museum, then Mt. Namsan; and Samneung Valley in particular, is an outdoor shrine dedicated to Silla Buddhism. From the visitors centre and the parking lot, it’s about a 1.5 kilometre hike to the top of the valley. Leaving enough time to see everything, which there’s a lot to see, it’ll take anywhere from an hour to two hours to hike. The trail starts off rather easily, and then it gets gradually harder and harder. A: The “Three Royal Tombs in Bae-dong, Gyeongju” The first…
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Video: Sinheungsa Temple – 신흥사 (Yangsan, Gyeongsangnam-do)
Hello Again Everyone!! Sinheungsa Temple in Yangsan, Gyeongsangnam-do has one of the more mysterious origins. Purportedly, the temple was built in 301 A.D. and later destroyed. However, according to Korean tradition, Buddhism didn’t enter the Korean peninsula until 372 A.D. in the northern kingdom of Goguryeo. The only possible answer is that Queen Heo of the Gaya Kingdom, who was Indian in origin and married King Suro, brought Buddhism with her to the peninsula and helped influence its spread earlier on than once thought. This is one potential answer. In addition to the temple’s mysterious history, the temple is filled with beautiful Buddhist artwork, especially in the main hall. Most…
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Bulguksa Temple – 불국사 (Gyeongju)
Temple History Without a doubt, Bulguksa Temple in Gyeongju is the most famous Korean Buddhist temple both in Korea and internationally. Bulguksa Temple is located at the western foot of Mt. Tohamsan (745 m) in eastern Gyeongju (the former capital of the Silla Kingdom). 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…
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Samgwangsa Temple – 삼광사 (Busanjin-gu, Busan)
Temple History Samgwangsa Temple is situated on Mt. Baekyangsan (641.3m) in Busanjin-gu, Busan. Unlike the majority of temples in Korea like neighbouring Beomeosa Temple and Tongdosa Temple, Samgwangsa Temple doesn’t belong to the Jogye-jong Buddhist Order. Instead, it belongs to the third largest Buddhist Order in Korea: Cheontae-jong Order. The temple is a rather recent creation with it being built in 1983. Throughout the years, it has continued to grow with recent additions like the Myeongbu-jeon Hall and the Geukrak-jeon Hall on the upper hillside. Specifically, Samgwangsa Temple is dedicated to the Bodhisattva of Compassion, Gwanseeum-bosal. And Samgwangsa Temple is best known for its lantern festival that it hosts each…
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Seokbulsa Temple – 석불사 (Buk-gu, Busan)
Temple History Seokbulsa Temple in Buk-gu, Busan means “Stone Buddha Temple” in English. First constructed around 1930 (or 1927 depending on the source) by the monk Jo Ilhyeon, the temple was originally called Byeongpungam Hermitage, which means “Folding Screen Hermitage” in English. The original name of the temple comes from its location. Situated between Mt. Geumjeongsan and Mt. Baekyangsan, the folds of the rocks that make up the grounds of the temple look like a tall Korean folding screen. However, with the creation of the twenty rock carvings that make the temple so beautiful and famous, the name of the temple changed to Seokbulsa Temple. These rock reliefs are believed…
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Haedong Yonggungsa Temple – 해동 용궁사 (Gijang-gun, Busan)
Temple History Haedong Yonggungsa Temple, which means “Korean Dragon Palace Temple” in English is a reference to Yongwang (The Dragon King) and the Yonggung (Dragon Palace) that he lives in under the sea. Located in coastal Gijang, Busan, Haedong Yonggungsa Temple has perhaps the most beautiful location for any temple in all of Korea. The temple was first constructed in 1376 by the monk Naong Hyegeun (1320-1376). The temple was built after Naong Hyegeun had a dream. The dream was about the Divine Sea god of the East Sea. During this dream, the Divine Sea god told Naong Hyegeun to build a temple on top of Mt. Bongnae. If Naong…
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Beomeosa Temple – 범어사 (Geumjeong-gu, Busan)
Temple History Beomeosa Temple is located on the northeast side of Mt. Geumjeongsan (801.5) 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 established as one of the ten major temple sites for the Avatamsaka School (Hwaeom School). The name of the temple relates to the name of the mountain for which Beomeosa Temple is situated. Mt. Geumjeongsan means “Golden Well Mountain,” in English. This comes from the myth that a golden fish descended down from the heavens on a five-coloured cloud and played in a well…
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Ssanggyesa Temple – 쌍계사 (Hadong, Gyeongsangnam-do)
Temple History Located in Jirisan National Park, and north of Hadong, Gyeongsangnam-do, Ssanggyesa Temple is situated in one of the prettiest locations in all of Korea. The temple was originally built in 722 A.D. and called Okcheonsa Temple. The temple was built after the monks Daebi and Sambeop were instructed by the Jirisan Sanshin (Mountain Spirit) in the form of a tiger to find a valley where arrowroot blossomed throughout the year even during wintertime. Both monks were the disciples of the famed temple building monk, Uisang-daesa (625-702). Finding such a location, they built Okcheonsa Temple. And after returning from China, they buried the skull of the Sixth Seon Patriarch,…
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Haeinsa Temple – 해인사 (Hapcheon, Gyeongsangnam-do)
Temple History Haeinsa Temple 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…