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Former Seogyeongsa Temple – 구 서경사 (Gyeongju)
Temple History The former Seogyeongsa Temple is located in central Gyeongju. According to the sign that details the history of Seogyeongsa Temple, Seogyeongsa Temple was built around 1932 during Japanese Colonial Rule (1910-45). However, and according to archival documents, what’s more likely is that Seogyeongsa Temple was first built between 1936-37 by Shibata Dankuro, who was a prominent Japanese businessman in Gyeongju. Seogyeongsa Temple was first built to support the religious lives of Japanese Buddhists residing in Gyeongju. Shibata first came to the Korean Peninsula before the Japanese annexation of Korea in 1910. Initially, Shibata moved to the Korean Peninsula to work in gold mining; however, he would ultimately fail.…
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Gwaneumsa Temple – 관음사 (Jung-gu, Daegu)
Temple History Gwaneumsa Temple is located in central Daegu in Jung-gu. Gwaneumsa Temple is one of only four temples still in existence in Korea that was built by the Japanese during Japanese Colonial Rule (1910-45). Other Japanese-style temples include the former Seogyeongsa Temple in Gyeongju, Dongguksa Temple in Gunsan, Jeollabuk-do, and the former Dongbongwonsa Temple in Mokpo, Jeollanam-do. Gwaneumsa Temple was first founded in 1916 by a Japanese monk. The temple was built by the Oriental Development Company for the Japanese residents of Daegu that included government officials. Originally, the temple was known as Seonnimsa Temple. After Korea’s liberation from Japan in 1945, the temple was classified as “jeoksan,” or…
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Illaksa Temple – 일락사 (Seosan, Chungcheongnam-do)
Temple History Illaksa Temple is located in southeastern Seosan, Chungcheongnam-do in the western foothills of Mt. Illaksan (521.4 m). It’s believed that Illaksa Temple was first established in 663 A.D. by the monk Uihyeon-seonsa. However, it’s difficult to verify the very existence of Uihyeon-seonsa. Eventually, the temple would fall into disrepair at one point only to be restored during the early part of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910). According to the “Record of the Reconstruction of the Daeung-jeon Hall of Illaksa Temple,” which was produced in 1918, Illaksa Temple has undergone numerous reconstructions including in 1487, 1530, and 1649. The earliest known reconstruction at Illaksa Temple occurred during the mid-Joseon Dynasty…
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Buseoksa Temple – 부석사 (Seosan, Chungcheongnam-do)
Temple History Buseoksa Temple in Seosan, Chungcheongnam-do, which shouldn’t be confused with the more famous Buseoksa Temple in Yeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do, is located to the west of Mt. Dobisan (352.8 m). The temple was purportedly first established in 677 A.D. by the famed monk Uisang-daesa (625-702 A.D.). Buseoksa Temple means “Floating Rock Temple” in English. Little is known about the temple’s history except that it was rebuilt during the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) by the monk Muhak (1327-1405). Later, and during the 20th century, both Gyeongheo (1846-1912) and Mangong (1871-1946) lived and taught at Buseoksa Temple. Originally, there was a wooden seated statue of Amita-bul (The Buddha of the Western Paradise) that…
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Taeeulam Hermitage – 태을암 (Taean, Chungcheongnam-do)
Hermitage History Taeeulam Hermitage is located in northern Taean, Chungcheongnam-do to the west of Mt. Baekhwasan (284.6 m) near the coast of the Yellow Sea. The exact date and founder of the hermitage are both unknown, however, it’s believed that Taeeulam Hermitage was first established when the Taeil-jeon Hall moved to Taean from Uiseong, Gyeongsangbuk-do. Housed inside the Taeil-jeon Hall was a portrait of Dangun, who is the legendary founder of Korea. And the reason for moving the Taeil-jeon Hall from Uiseong to the Taean is that it was to symbolically promote safety and peace to the people of the area. Taean was not only a gateway for the entry…
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Juksa Temple – 죽사 (Seosan, Chungcheongnam-do)
Temple History Juksa Temple, which means “Bamboo Temple” in English, is located on the southern slopes of Mt. Biryongsan in western Seosan, Chungcheongnam-do. Geographically, it’s located near the summit of Mt. Biryongsan with a large rock wall rising on the eastern side of the grounds. This natural rock feature almost appears to encircle the temple, in part, like a folding screen. There are no surviving records about when the temple was first founded, but according to one theory, Juksa Temple was first founded by the monk Dogam-guksa during the reign of King Uija of Baekje (r. 641-660 A.D.). However, since there is no record of a monk named Dogam that…
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Ssanggyesa Temple – 쌍계사 (Nonsan, Chungcheongnam-do)
Temple History Ssanggyesa Temple, which shouldn’t be confused with the other more famous temple of the same name in Hadong, Gyeongsangnam-do, is located to the north of Mt. Jakbongsan (419.5 m) in southern Nonsan, Chunghcheongnam-do. The name of the temple means “Two Valleys Temple” in English. Initially, however, the temple was known as Baekamsa Temple. According to the “Junggeonbi” or “Reconstruction Monument” in English, Ssanggyesa Temple was first founded during the Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392) through the initiative of Haengchon Yi Im; however, the exact date and founder of the temple remains unknown. It’s also believed by some that the monk Hyemyeong-daesa built Ssanggyesa Temple during the early part of the…
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Taeguksa Temple – 태국사 (Taean, Chungcheongnam-do)
Temple History Taeguksa Temple is located in western Taean, Chungcheongnam-do. In fact, the temple is the most westerly Buddhist temple in Korea. Taeguksa Temple is situated inside Anheungjin-seong Fortress and overlooks the Yellow Sea. It’s unclear when the temple was first founded, but it’s believed to have been first founded by the monk Hyemyeong during the reign of King Mu of Baekje (r. 600-641 A.D.). Due to the temple’s location, it’s believed that Taeguksa Temple might have been used as a military base during the Baekje Kingdom (18 B.C.–660 A.D.). The temple was also known for housing a shrine dedicated to Dangun, who is the legendary founder of Korea. Taeguksa…
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Yongamsa Temple – 용암사 (Paju, Gyeonggi-do)
Temple History Yongamsa Temple is located in eastern Paju, Gyeonggi-do to the west of Mt. Bakdalsan (363 m). Although the exact date of the temple’s founding is unknown, it does seem to be closely linked to the creation of the “Two Rock-Carved Standing Buddhas in Yongmi-ri, Paju,” which is believed to date back to the 11th century. Although there are no records about the temple from the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), it is known that Yongamsa Temple was destroyed during the Imjin War (1592-98) and later rebuilt on the old temple site in 1936. The Daeung-jeon Hall was constructed in 1979. And a year later, the mural dedicated to Jijang-bosal (The…
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Gukcheongsa Temple – 국청사 (Geumjeong-gu, Busan)
Temple History Gukcheongsa Temple is located in the southern portion of Mt. Geumjeongsan (801.5 m) in Geumjeong-gu, Busan. Gukcheongsa Temple is also just south of the Geumgjeongsan-seong Fortress southern walls. Gukcheongsa Temple was first built by Uisang-daesa (625-702 A.D.) during the Silla Dynasty (57 B.C. – 935 A.D.). Little is known about the temple’s history until the Imjin War (1592-98), when the temple was used as a strategic military command post by the Righteous Army against Japanese invading forces. In 1703, the Geumjeongsan-seong Fortress was repaired; and with it, Gukcheongsa Temple was rebuilt, as well. More recently, the temple has undergone a lot of construction. In 1978, the Samseong-gak Hall…