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Baegyangsa Temple – 백양사 (Jangseong, Jeollanam-do)
Temple History Baegyangsa Temple is located in Naejangsan National Park in Jangseong, Jeollanam-do in a valley between Mt. Daegaksan (529.8 m) to the southeast and Mt. Baegamsan (741.2 m) to the northwest. Baegyangsa Temple was first founded in 632 A.D. during the Baekje Kingdom (18 B.C. – 660 A.D.). Originally, when the temple was first constructed, it was called Baegamsa Temple. Later, and during the Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392), the temple changed its name to Jeongtosa Temple in 1034. The name of the temple at this time was in reference to the Pure Land in Buddhism, or “Jeongto” in Korean. The temple would change its name, once more, this time to…
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Sumisan Sect – Gwangjosa-ji Temple Site (Haeju, Hwanghae-do, North Korea)
The Sumisan sect was located at the Gwangjosa-ji Temple Site in Haeju, Hwanghae-do, North Korea. The Sumisan sect was established by the monk Ieom-daesa (866-932 A.D.). Ieom-daesa’s family name was Kim, and he was born in 866 A.D. At the age of twelve, he became a monk at Gapsa Temple in Gongju, Chungcheongnam-do. He would receive his precepts under the monk Deongnyang. In 894 A.D., Ieom-daesa would travel to Tang China (618–690, 705–907 A.D.) and receive the dharma from Yunju Daoying (830-902 A.D.), who was the head disciple of the monk Dongshan Liangjia (807-869 A.D.). Ieom-daesa would return to Silla in 911 A.D., where he resided at Seunggwangsa Temple in…
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Yonghwasa Temple – 용화사 (Cheongju, Chungcheongbuk-do)
Temple History Yonghwasa Temple is located in downtown Cheongju, Chungcheongbuk-do next to the Musimcheon Stream. The current Yonghwasa Temple was established in 1902. However, as a result of excavation work conducted by the Cheongju National Museum in 1992 near the Yonghwasa Temple grounds, it was confirmed that a larger temple existed in the area from the late Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392). As for the name of the temple, Yonghwasa Temple, it’s related to the belief that Mireuk-bul (The Future Buddha) will be reborn under a dragon flower tree upon his return as a Buddha. Yonghwasa Temple is home to Korean Treasure #985, the Stone Buddhas of Yonghwasa Temple. The seven statues…
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Yongamsa Temple – 용암사 (Okcheon, Chungcheongbuk-do)
Temple History Yongamsa Temple in Okcheon, Chungcheongbuk-do is located on the northern side of Mt. Jangryeongam (654.5 m). Yongamsa Temple was first established in 552 A.D. by the monk Uisin. This is the very same monk that would go on to establish the famed Beopjusa Temple one year later in 553 A.D. In a twist, Yongamsa Temple is now a branch temple of Beopjusa Temple. Yongamsa Temple means “Dragon Rock Temple” in English. The temple was named after a dragon-like rock that once resided on the temple grounds. However, the Yongbawi Rock was destroyed by the Japanese, and only a trace of the rock still remains to this day. In…
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Sajasan Sect – Heungnyeongsa-ji Temple Site (Yeongwol, Gangwon-do)
The Sajasan sect was located at Heungnyeongsa-ji Temple Site in Yeongwol, Gangwon-do. Now the temple is known as Beopheungsa Temple, and it’s also a Jeokmyeol-bogung site (a shrine containing sari relics of the Historical Buddha, Seokgamoni-bul, as established by the monk Jajang-yulsa), as well. The temple was first founded by the monk Doyun (798-868 A.D.). Doyun’s posthumous name is Cheolgam. For the longest time, Doyun resided at Ssangbongsa Temple in Hwasun, Jeollanam-do. For this reason, Doyun is also known as Ssangbong. Doyun’s family name was Bak, and his mother was from the Go clan. Before Doyun was born, his mother had a dream. In this dream, the sleeping chamber she…
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Chukseosa Temple – 축서사 (Bonghwa, Gyeongsangbuk-do)
Temple History Chukseosa Temple is located in Bonghwa, Gyeongsangbuk-do to the west of Mt. Munsusan (1,207.3). Chukseosa Temple was first founded in 673 A.D. by the famed monk Uisang-daesa (625-702 A.D.). The name of the temple, “Chukseo” is in reference to Mt. Yeongchuksan. And Mt. Yeongchuksan means “Vulture Peak,” or “Holy Eagle Peak” in English. This was the site where the Buddha gave certain sermons in India. Among these sermons are the Heart Sutra and the Lotus Sutra. More specifically, the “Chukseo” in the temple name is in reference to eagles and how eagles mean wisdom in Buddhism. And this wisdom is in reference to the Bodhisattva of Wisdom, Munsu-bosal,…
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Seongjusan Sect – Seongjusa-ji Temple Site (Boryeong, Chungcheongnam-do)
The Seongjusan sect was located out of present-day Boryeong, Chungcheongnam-do at Seongjusa Temple. This temple was already established in 616 A.D. through the orders of King Mu of Baekje (r. 600-641 A.D.). The temple was originally named Ohapsa Temple. The reason for this name was to help commemorate the recent victory over the neighbouring Silla and to pray for the souls of soldiers that had died during the conflict. As Prof. Mason points out on his former website, “The Samguk-Yusa records that in 659, during the reign of the final King Uija (의자왕), a ‘Red Goblin’ (hong dokkebi) was seen circumambulating this temple 6 times (an inauspicious number), and then…
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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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Sagulsan Sect – Gulsansa-ji Temple Site (Gangneung, Gangwon-do)
The Sagulsan sect was founded by National Preceptor Beomil (810-889 A.D.) during the reign of King Munseong of Silla (r. 839-857 A.D.). At the time of the Nine Mountain Schools of Seon, the Sagulsan sect, which was located out of Gulsansa Temple in Gangneung, Gangwon-do, was the most prosperous of the nine. Beomil was also known as Pumil, and he received the posthumous title of Tonghyo. Beomil’s family name was Kim, and his mother belonged to the Ji clan. He was born in 810 A.D. after his mother was pregnant for an astounding thirteen months. When he was born, he was said to have a conch-tuft on top of his…
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Simwonsa Temple – 심원사 (Seongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do)
Temple History Simwonsa Temple is located in the northeastern part of Gayasan National Park in Seongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do. In fact, Simwonsa Temple isn’t all that far away from the famed Haeinsa Temple, which is also located in Gayasan National Park. It’s believed that Simwonsa Temple was first founded during Unified Silla (668-935 A.D.) some time in the 8th century. Yi Sung-in, who was also known under the pen-name of Doeun, and who was born in Seongju during the Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392), wrote about the temple in one of his poems entitled “Gimsimwonjeongro.” In this poem, he describes the temple as “The ancient temple, Simwonsa Temple, stands on Mt. Gayasan.” Additionally, and…