Templestay – Beopjusa Temple (Boeun, Chungcheongbuk-do)
Introduction to Temple
Beopjusa Temple, which is located in Songnisan National Park in Boeun, Chungcheongbuk-do, means “Dharma Residence Temple” in English. The temple was first built in 553 A.D. by the monk Uisin. After traveling to India to learn more about Buddhism, Uisin returned to the Korean Peninsula with Indian Buddhist texts. He carried these Buddhist texts on a white donkey, and he housed them at the temple he would call Beopjusa Temple.
During the Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392), and in the early 1100’s, over 30,000 monks gathered at Beopjusa Temple to pray for the dying Uicheon-guksa (1055-1101). At its largest, Beopjusa Temple housed some three thousand monks. However, during the Imjin War (1592-1598), Beopjusa Temple was completely destroyed. The temple would finally be rebuilt in 1624. And several of Beopjusa Temple’s most prominent temple structures like the Palsang-jeon Hall date back to this time period.
During the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), Beopjusa Temple would continue to grow in size and importance. Then, in 1964, president Park Chung Hee (r.1961-79) financed the construction of the twenty-nine metre tall cement standing statue of Mireuk-bul (The Future Buddha). This was followed up by the efforts of Master Taejeon Geumho in 1974, with the help of government funding, of an all-out repair and restoration of most of the buildings at Beopjusa Temple. In 1988, the massive bronze statue of Mireuk-bul (The Future Buddha) that stands at thirty-three metres in height replaced the twenty year old cement statue of the same Buddha at the temple. In total, the temple is home to an amazing three National Treasure, thirteen Korean Treasures, one historic site, and one scenic site.
As for the Templestay program at Beopjusa Temple, there are two programs that they conduct. The first is the [All is Well] Nourishing the Mind and Body with the Power of 1500 Years Program, which is a one night two day program that focuses on a temple tour, a hike, and a prayer ceremony. As for the second program, which is the [All is Well] A Taste of Beopjusa Templestay Program (a four and a half hour day program), it focuses on a temple tour and making prayer beads.
For more on Beopjusa Temple.
Directions
To get to Beopjusa Temple, you’ll first need to get to the Boeun Intercity Bus Terminal. From this terminal, there’s a bus that goes directly to Mt. Songnisan. This bus runs every thirty to forty minutes throughout the day. From where the bus drops you off at the Songnisan stop, you’ll need to walk an additional twenty minutes to the Beopjusa Temple/Mt. Songnisan ticket office.
Templestay Program
Beopjusa Temple conducts two Templestay programs at their temple. The first, which is called [All is Well] Nourishing the Mind and Body with the Power of 1500 Years Program, is a one night two day program. While the second, which is entitled [All is Well] A Taste of Beopjusa Templestay Program, is a four and half hour one day program. Here are their schedules:
A: [All is Well] Nourishing the Mind and Body with the Power of 1500 Years Program
| Time | Title |
|---|---|
| 14:00-15:00 | Arrival & Registration – Change into Temple Clothes |
| 16:00-16:50 | Temple Tour |
| 17:20-18:20 | Dinner |
| 18:30-19:00 | Yebul |
| 20:30-21:00 | Bedtime |
| Time | Title |
|---|---|
| 04:00-04:20 | Wake-up |
| 04:30-05:00 | Yebul |
| 05:50-06:20 | Breakfast |
| 07:00-09:30 | Hiking to Sujeong-bong |
| 09:30-10:30 | Walking Along the King Sejogil |
| 11:20-12:00 | Lunch |
(This schedule is subject to change)
B: [All is Well] A Taste of Beopjusa Templestay Program
| Time | Title |
|---|---|
| 10:00-11:00 | Arrival & Orientation |
| 11:10-12:00 | Lunch |
| 12:00-13:30 | Beopjusa Temple Tour |
| 13:50-14:30 | 108 Bows (Prostrations) + Making Chanting Beads |
(This schedule is subject to change)
Temple Information
Address: 405 Beopjusa-ro, Sokrisan-myeon, Boeun-gun, Chungcheongbuk-do
Tel: +82 10 9528 5655 (mobile)
E-mail: beopjusa3@templestay.com
Fees
[All is Well] Nourishing the Mind and Body with the Power of 1500 Years Program – adults – 70,000 won; students (up to 18 years of age) – 70,000 won; pre-schoolers – 40,000 won
[All is Well] A Taste of Beopjusa Templestay Program – adults – 60,000 won; students (up to 18 years of age) – 60,000 won
*The cancellation policy is as follows: 3 days before: 100% refund; 2 days before: 70% refund; 1 day before: 10% refund; the day of the reservation there is no refund.
Links
Reservations for the [All is Well] Nourishing the Mind and Body with the Power of 1500 Years Program
Reservations for the [All is Well] A Taste of Beopjusa Templestay Program
