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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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Baekcheonsa Temple – 백천사 (Sacheon, Gyeongsangnam-do)
Temple History Baekcheonsa Temple is located to the north of Mt. Waryongsan (797.6 m) in southern Sacheon, Gyeongsangnam-do. It’s said that Baekcheonsa Temple was first established some 1,300 years ago during the reign of King Munmu of Silla (r. 661–681 A.D.). Purportedly, the temple was first constructed by Uiseon-daesa, who was a disciple of Uisang-daesa (625-702). Records about Baekcheonsa Temple, including the “Jin-yangji,” state: “Baekcheonsa Temple was located on the western side of Mt. Waryongsan. The eastern valley flowing from Dosolam Hermitage…The western valley near the temple, flowing from Seonjeongam Hermitage, features scenic spots like Sesimjeong and Mugumdae. There were 16 waterwheels located in the upper and lower parts of…
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Gaseopam-ji Hermitage Site – 가섭암지 (Geochang, Gyeongsangnam-do)
Hermitage Site History The Gaseopam-ji Hermitage Site is located in Geochang, Gyeongsangnam-do in Geumwonsan Natural Recreational Forest between Jirisan National Park to the south and Deogyusan National Park to the north. Mt. Geumwonsan (1,352.5 m), in fact, is located just to the west of the hermitage site. Before getting into the history of the hermitage site, there are a few rather interesting myths connected to Mt. Geumwonsan. According to one myth, there once lived a golden monkey, but he was so unruly that a monk had to restrain him under a rock. This rock was then called Natbawi, or Nabbawi, because it looked like a monkey’s face. According to another…
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Jigoksa Temple – 지곡사 (Sancheong, Gyeongsangnam-do)
Temple History Jigoksa Temple is located in southern Sancheong, Gyeongsangnam-do in the southern foothills of Mt. Gisan (616.1 m) near Simjeoksa Temple. It’s believed that Jigoksa Temple was first founded during the Silla Dynasty (57 B.C. – 935 A.D.), but historical records indicate that the temple was probably first established some time during Unified Silla (668-935 A.D.). It’s believed that the temple was first founded by the monk Eungjin, and it was initially named Guktaesa Temple. After his death, the monk Hyewol renovated the temple and expanded it greatly during the early Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392). During this time, the temple was renowned as one of the five great Seon temples.…
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Yaksusa Temple – 약수사 (Gwanak-gu, Seoul)
Temple History Yaksusa Temple is located in Gwanak-gu, Seoul to the northwest of Mt. Gwanaksan (632.2 m). Yaksusa Temple, which is also sometimes referred to as Yaksuam Hermitage, is a temple for nuns. While some records suggest that Yaksusa Temple was first founded in 1421, the “Bong-eun Bonmal Saji – 奉恩本末寺誌” claims that the temple’s origins go all the way back to a hermit named Kim. Kim, purportedly, built a small thatched hut for spiritual practice during the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910). In the late 18th century, and according to the “Beomugo,” which was a document commissioned by King Jeongjo of Joseon (r. 1776-1800) to survey temples nationwide, temples around Mt.…