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Geojosa Temple – 거조사 (Yeongcheon, Gyeongsangbuk-do)
Temple History Geojosa Temple is located on the eastern slopes of the famed Mt. Palgongsan (1193 m) in Yeongcheon, Gyeongsangbuk-do. Geojosa Temple was a branch hermitage of the neighbouring Eunhaesa Temple until recently. Originally, the temple was known as Haeansa Temple. However, there is some dispute as to when the temple was first built. In fact, there are three theories as to when the temple was first built. The first theory states that the temple was first completed under the watchful eye of Wonhyo-daesa (617-686 A.D.) in 693 A.D. However, since Wonhyo-daesa died in 686 A.D., it’s highly unlikely that he founded Geojosa Temple in 693 A.D. Another theory states…
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Eunhaesa Temple – 은해사 (Yeongcheon, Gyeongsangbuk-do)
Temple History Eunhaesa Temple, which means “Silver Sea Temple” in English, is located on the far east side of Mt. Palgongsan (1192.3 m) in Yeongcheon, Gyeongsangbuk-do. The name of the temple has a double meaning. The first is that Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and Nahan (Historical Disciples of the Buddha) look like a wavy silver sea in all their grandeur. Another meaning is that on a foggy day at Eunhaesa Temple, it looks like a wavy sea. Eunhaesa Temple was first established in 809 A.D. by the monk Hyecheol-guksa. Originally, the temple was named Haeansa Temple, which means “Tranquil Sea Temple” in English. The temple was reconstructed in 1264 by Hongjin-guksa. It…
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Manbulsa Temple – 만불사 (Yeongcheon, Gyeongsangbuk-do)
Temple History Manbulsa Temple, which means “Ten Thousand Buddhas Temple,” in English, is located in south-eastern Yeongcheon, Gyeongsangbuk-do. The temple is scenically located in a valley west of Mt. Manbulsan (275.4m). Manbulsa Temple is a modern temple in the truest sense of the word with its overstated colours and ornate shrine halls. The idea for the construction of Manbulsa Temple dates back to 1981, when the monk Hakseong first thought of building it. However, it’s not until 1992 that the first cornerstone got laid at Manbulsa Temple, which, in effect, started the initial construction of the temple. In February, 1993, the founding monk, Hakseong, brought back a sari (crystallized remain)…
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Chunghyosa Temple – 충효사 (Yeongcheon, Gyeongsangbuk-do)
Temple History Chunghyosa Temple is located in the very scenic Yeongcheon, Gyeongsangbuk-do. It’s situated to the north of the picturesque Lake Yeongcheon, which is a long and deep lake, and east of Mt. Giryongsan (965.5m). Chunghyosa Temple, which means “Loyalty to Nation Temple,” in English, is located in Chunghyo-ri. This part of Yeongcheon is filled with locations with similar names, too. Chunghyosa Temple was first built in the 1970’s, and it has continued to grow and expand throughout the ensuing decades. Chunghyosa Temple is not apart of the Jogye-jong Buddhist Order, or even the Taego-jong Buddhist Order or the Cheontae-jong Buddhist Order in Korea. Instead, the temple focuses on the…