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Seoyugi-do – “Journey to the West” Murals: 서유기도
Introduction In the Yonghwa-jeon Hall at Tongdosa Temple in Yangsan, Gyeongsangnam-do, there is a collection of over 30 paintings adorning its interior walls. Of these paintings, it’s the seven larger paintings that adorn the east and west walls that stand out for their originality and age. According to “A Study of the Journey to the West Painting in Yonghwa-jeon Hall at Tongdosa Temple” by Choi Mina, these seven paintings are dedicated to the “Journey to the West” (西遊記圖), which are a collection of stories written in the 16th century and traditionally attributed to Wu Cheng’en (吳承恩, c. 1500–1582). Originally, these tales were passed down as Chinese folk legends before being…
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Anguksa Temple – 안국사 (Hamyang, Gyeongsangnam-do)
Temple History Anguksa Temple in Hamyang, Gyeongsangnam-do is one of several temples with this exact same name in Korea. As for this Anguksa Temple, it’s located on the western slopes of Mt. Geumdaesan (851.5m) near Geumdaeam Hermitage. Anguksa Temple was first founded in 1403 by the monk Haenghojo, who built the temple in hopes of stabilizing Joseon (1392-1910), which had just formed a few years prior. On August 29, 1598, and during the Imjin War (1592-98), about 500 Japanese soldiers entered the Mt. Jirisan region and burned the temple down along with Geumdaeam Hermitage. Although it was later rebuilt, the temple would eventually be destroyed by fire in 1947. It…
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Singwangsa Temple – 신광사 (Buk-gu, Gwangju)
Temple History Singwangsa Temple in Buk-gu, Gwangju, which shouldn’t be confused with the dozen or so other temples with the same name in Korea, is located in the eastern part of the city. Singwangsa Temple was first founded in 1933 from the donations of Kim Cheong-jaewol, who was the mother of Choi Dong-yeol. Choi Dong-yeol was a prominent figure in Gwangju around this time. Singwangsa Temple was the first temple in Gwangju to be made for the practice of nuns. In 1944, the first abbess of the temple, Hyeun (慧雲), took over the administration of the temple. She also registered it as a branch temple of Songgwangsa Temple. It was…
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Hakbangsa Temple – 학방사 (Hadong, Gyeongsangnam-do)
Temple History Hakbangsa Temple, which is also referred to as Hakbangam Hermitage, is located in eastern Hadong, Gyeongsangnam-do to the southwest of Mt. Bonghaksan. Hakbangsa Temple means “Fragrant Crane Temple” in English. As for the name of the mountain where Hakbangsa Temple is located, it looks like the shape of a crane lying down. And where the temple is built, it’s placed under what looks like the wings of the crane. Eventually, it’s believed, that the crane will finally spread its wings and soar high up into the sky. According to the temple registration for Gyeongsangnam-do, Hakbangsa Temple was originally founded in the late Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392). There is very…
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Yangdeoksa Temple – 양덕사 (Ulju-gun, Ulsan)
Temple History Yangdeoksa Temple is located in Ulju-gun, Ulsan next to the Gyeongbu Highway that connects Busan to Gyeongju. It’s also at the nexus of the Ulsan Expressway that connects eastern Ulsan with the western part of the city. Yangdeoksa Temple is a modern temple that’s just over 20 years old. The temple also belongs to the Cheontae-jong Order of Korean Buddhism. Temple Layout After making your way under a few highway underpasses and next to several rice fields, you’ll finally stumble upon Yangdeoksa Temple next to a portion of the Eonyang River. The first building to welcome you will be the two-story main hall. The first floor of the…
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Seonghyeolsa Temple – 성혈사 (Yeongju, Gyeongasngbuk-do)
Temple History Seonghyeolsa Temple is located in the eastern confines of Sobaeksan National Park in Yeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do. Seonghyeolsa Temple means “Sacred Cave Temple” in English. The temple is said to have first been founded by the monk Uisang-daesa (625-702 A.D.) during the Silla Dynasty (57 B.C. – 935 A.D.). According to a temple legend, after Uisang-daesa founded the nearby Buseoksa Temple, he established Choamsa Temple on the site of the thatched hut (choam, 草庵) he built when he first visited Mt. Sobaeksan (1,439 m). However, the rafters to the roof of the thatched roof at Choamsa Temple kept disappearing, so Uisang-daesa went out to find them. He would eventually discover…
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Chilseongsa Temple – 칠성사 (Hadong, Gyeongsangnam-do)
Temple History Chilseongsa Temple is located to the west of Chilseong-bong Peak (905.8 m) in northern Hadong, Gyeongsangnam-do. Originally, the temple was known as Geumbongam Hermitage, or “Golden Phoenix Hermitage” in English, when it was rebuilt in 2004. The name of the hermitage then changed to Geumbongsa Temple in 2009 with the increase in prominence of the temple. Finally, the temple was renamed as Chilseongsa Temple, or “Seven Stars Temple” in English, on October 8th, 2014. Chilseongsa Temple is a temple that was restored and rebuilt in 2004 by the monk Danje. Danje was a disciple of Hyobong, who was a monk that served as the Supreme Patriarch of the…
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Seongamsa Temple – 성암사 (Nam-gu, Busan)
Temple History Seongamsa Temple is located on the southern slopes of Mt. Hwangnyeongsan (427m) in Nam-gu, Busan. Because of its location on Mt. Hwangnyeongsan, it’s said to resemble a turtle laying eggs. This is thought to symbolize wealth and prosperity. As a result, Seongamsa Temple is thought to have an auspicious location. According to oral tradition, the temple was first founded in the late Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392), and it once oversaw 13 hermitages. However, no detailed historical records about the temple have survived. There are various legends about the modern origin of the temple. One tells of a lay practitioner, in 1910, who built a hermitage and then enshrined a…
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Guryongsa Temple – 구룡사 (Buk-gu, Busan)
Temple History Guryongsa Temple, which means “Nine Dragons Temple” in English, is located in Buk-gu, Busan with the Nakdong River not too far off to the west. It shouldn’t be confused with the more famous Guryongsa Temple in Wonju, Gangwon-do. It’s believed that the temple was first established in 680 A.D. by the famed monk Uisang-daesa (625-702 A.D.). Guryongsa Temple was originally named Seonhyusa Temple because of its beautiful location. As a result, it was believed that the temple was made in a place where Taoist hermits would want to stop and rest. Eventually, the temple would be renamed Guryongsa Temple. As for the name and how the temple came…
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Songgyesa Temple – 송계사 (Geochang, Gyeongsangnam-do)
Temple History Songgyesa Temple is located in the eastern foothills of Mt. Deogyusan (1,614.2 m) in northern Geochang, Gyeongsangnam-do. Songgyesa Temple means “Pine Stream Temple” in English. It’s believed that the temple was first founded by the monks Wonhyho-daesa (617-686 A.D.) and Uisang-daesa (625-702 A.D.) in 652 A.D. The famed monks first built Yeongchwisa Temple in the area. This was subsequently followed by the building of five hermitages. One of these hermitages was Songgyeam Hermitage. During the Imjin War (1592-98), Yeongchwisa Temple and all five of the hermitages were burned down and destroyed. However, during the reign of King Sukjong of Joseon (r. 1674-1720), the monk Jinmyeong would only rebuild…