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Gamsansa Temple – 감산사 (Gyeongju)
Temple History Gamsansa Temple, which means “Sweet Mountain Temple” in English, is located about two kilometres to the south of the famed Bulguksa Temple on Mt. Tohamsan (745.7 m) in eastern Gyeongju. According to the inscriptions found on the “Stone Standing Maitreya Bodhisattva of Gamsansa Temple” and the “Stone Standing Amitabha Buddha of Gamsansa Temple,” both of which are National Treasures, Gamsansa Temple was first built on “‘Nirvana Day’ (February 15th) in the eighteenth year of King Seongdeok of Silla (r. 702-737 A.D.).” Based on this information, Gamsansa Temple was first established in 719 A.D. As to who first commissioned the construction of Gamsansa Temple, it was Kim Jiseong (651-720…
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Colonial Korea – Mt. Namsan in Gyeongju
Introduction At the very heart of Japan’s Colonial interest in Korean Buddhism was where the religious and secular met, where Koreans and Japanese interacted and came into conflict, where preservation met exploitation, and Mt. Namsan in Gyeongju was at the very heart of this debate that took place during Japanese Colonial Rule (1910-45). There are numerous reasons as to why the Japanese Colonial authorities took an interest in Korean Buddhism. The first of these four reasons is Japan believed that Buddhism was a legitimate and natural counterpoint to help check future encroachment by Western Christianity. And because Korea’s history was so rooted in Buddhism, it would help function as a…
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Colonial Korea – Gyeongju
Introduction In general, there were numerous reasons as to why the Japanese were so focused on archaeology throughout the Korean Peninsula. One of the reasons was to portray the Korean colony as inferior to Japan and in need of civilizing. Another reason was to justify the annexation of Korea through tourism and conservation that had previously been overlooked by the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910). And the subsequent revenue would help the Japanese war effort in China. Finally, the other link that the Japanese attempted to form through these archaeological endeavors was to form a bond that united the two people through a form of pan-Asian Buddhism to help combat Western and…
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Templestay – Golgulsa Temple (Gyeongju)
Introduction to Temple Golgulsa Temple, which means “Bone Cave Temple” in English, is located in eastern Gyeongju just down the road from Girimsa Temple. Golgulsa Temple was first built during the 6th century by the monk Gwangyu. Purportedly, the monk Gwangyu arrived back in Korea from India with some of his followers. After arriving, he decided to build Golgulsa Temple to emulate the cave temples in India. Golgulsa Temple would continue to exist until the mid to late Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), when it was left in ruins after being destroyed by fire. Through a few twists and turns, the Golgulsa Temple that we know of today was rebuilt starting in…
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Temple Site in Bomun-dong – 보문동 사지 (Gyeongju)
Temple Site History The Temple Site in Bomun-dong is located in the historic city of Gyeongju on the east side of the Bomun plains between Mt. Hindeungsan (268.7 m) and Mt. Nangsan (99.5 m). The name of the temple is assumed to be Bomunsa Temple because of a tile found at the site with “Bomun” written on it in Chinese characters. The roof file was discovered during Japanese Colonization (1910-1945). It’s unclear as to when the temple was first built, but it’s believed to have been built some time before the reign of King Gyeongmun of Silla (r. 861-875 A.D.). Currently, the temple site is located in and among numerous…
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Jingwangsa Temple – 진광사 (Gyeongju)
Temple History Jingwangsa Temple is located in eastern Gyeongju near the East Sea and the famous the Gameunsa-ji Temple Site. Unlike the majority of Korean Buddhist temples that fall under one of three main Buddhist orders – the Jogye-jong Order, the Taego-jong Order, and the Cheontae-jong Order – Jingwangsa Temple belongs to the Jodong-jong Order. The Jodong-jong Order is a transliteration of the Caodong school. It is one of the 27 Korean Buddhist sects and orders, and it was first founded in May, 1989. The Jodong-jong Order is headquartered out of Cheongryongsa Temple in Jongno-gu, Seoul. In this form of Buddhism, Seokgamoni-bul (The Historical Buddha) is the central Buddha of…
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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…
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Janghang-ri Temple Site – 장항리사지 (Gyeongju)
Temple Site History The Janghang-ri Temple Site is located in eastern Gyeongju at the base of Mt. Tohamsan (745.7 m) to the south. And it gets its name from the local village where it’s located in Janghang-ri. The temple site is also located to the southeast of the famed Seokguram Hermitage, which is situated near the top of the mountain. Of all the National Treasures in Gyeongju, the Janghang-ri Temple Site, alongside Jeonghyesa-ji Temple Site, is probably the least well known of the twenty-six. The temple at the Janghang-ri Temple Site was first founded during the Unified Silla Kingdom (668-935 A.D.). Unfortunately, the exact date of when it was first…
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Daeheungsa Temple – 대흥사 (Gyeongju)
Temple History Daeheungsa Temple is located in northern Gyeongju, and it’s situated at the start of a long valley to the south-east of Mt. Jioksan (569 m). Daeheungsa Temple is a modern temple that belongs to the Yeombul-jong Order, which is one of the twenty-seven Buddhist orders recognized by the Korean government. They give primacy to chanting, and they focus on Amita-bul (The Buddha of the Western Paradise) as their primary Buddha that they worship. Yeombul-jong Buddhism was first founded in 1991 by the monk Kim Yunbo, and its headquarters is located in the city of Daejeon at Wongwangsa Temple. As for Daeheungsa Temple, it’s built on the rather large…
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Seondosa Temple – 선도사 (Gyeongju)
Temple History Seondosa Temple is located in the south-western portion of Gyeongju on Mt. Seondosan (380.6 m). The mountain was regarded as the Pure Land in Korean Buddhism during the Silla Dynasty (57 B.C. – 935 A.D.). Sadly, the mountain has been negatively impacted by forest fires in the not too distant past, which is made plain by the charred landscape. And near the peak of Mt. Seondosan is the diminutive Seondosa Temple. Near the base of the mountain, you’ll find the Royal Tomb of King Jinheung of Silla, which is Historic Site #177; the Royal Tomb of King Beopheung of Silla, which is Historic Site #176; as well as…