Temple History

Daejeoksa Temple is located in northern Cheongdo, Gyeongsangbuk-do to the west of Mt. Ansan (501.7 m). Daejeoksa Temple was first founded in 876 A.D. by the monk Bojo Chejing (804-880 A.D.), who shouldn’t be confused with the more famous Bojo-guksa (1158-1210). The temple was later rebuilt by the monk Boyang during the early part of the Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392). Daejeoksa Temple would eventually be destroyed by fire during the Imjin War (1592-98) in 1592. The temple was extensively repaired by the monk Seonghae in 1689. The temple would be repaired, again, in 1754 and 1939. And more recently, and starting in the 1970s, Daejeoksa Temple has undergone repairs up to the present-day.

Daejeoksa Temple is home to one Korean Treasure, which is the Geukrak-jeon Hall. The Geukrak-jeon Hall is Korean Treasure #836.

Temple Layout

You first make your way up to Daejeoksa Temple to the left of the Cheondgo Wine Tunnel. On the road that leads up to the temple, there is a stupa that houses the earthly remains of the monk Pungam, which was erected in 1752. And to the left of this stupa, and up a sidewinding side street, is Daejeoksa Temple.

From the temple parking lot, you’ll make your way up a set of wide stone stairs to get to the main temple courtyard. You’ll pass through an entry gate with a pair of intimidating images of Narayeon Geumgang and Miljeok Geumgang (Heng and Ha) on the entry doors. Stepping through this gate, you’ll finally enter the main temple courtyard with the monks’ dorms to your right and the historic Geukrak-jeon Hall straight ahead of you.

The exterior walls to the Geukrak-jeon Hall are adorned in simple dancheong colours. There are a pair of folkish-looking dragons near the signboard of the main hall entryway. It’s believed that the Geukrak-jeon Hall was first built in 1754. The Geukrak-jeon Hall is meant to symbolize the Western Paradise. On the front section of the stone base, you’ll find engraved images of lotus flowers, peonies, as well as tortoise designs. Also on either side of the base are sculpted images of dragons. The stone stairs leading up to the Geukrak-jeon Hall are believed to date back to 1676 and are adorned with lotus flowers and dragons.

Stepping inside the Geukrak-jeon Hall, you’ll notice a triad of statues on the main altar. Sitting in the centre is an image of Amita-bul (The Buddha of the Western Paradise), who is joined on either side by Gwanseeum-bosal (The Bodhisattva of Compassion) and Daesaeji-bosal (The Bodhisattva of Wisdom and Power for Amita-bul). A painting of Chilseong (The Seven Stars) hangs to the right of the main altar. As for the rest of the interior of the Geukrak-jeon Hall, the interior walls are adorned in murals dedicated to the Shinseon (Taoist Immortals), Nahan (The Historical Disciples), Jijang-bosal (The Bodhisattva of the Afterlife), the Bodhidharma and Dazu Huike, and Bicheon (Flying Heavenly Deities). A look up towards the ceiling will reveal a compact datjib (canopy), as well as murals of dragons and floral patterns.

To the left of the Geukrak-jeon Hall is the temple’s Myeongbu-jeon Hall. The exterior walls to this shrine hall, much like the main hall’s walls, are adorned in simple dancheong colours. Stepping inside the Myeongbu-jeon Hall, you’ll find a green-haired statue of Jijang-bosal on the main altar. This statue is backed by a relief dedicated to the Bodhisattva of the Afterlife and the Siwang (The Ten Kings of the Underworld).

The final shrine hall that visitors can explore at Daejeoksa Temple is the Sanshin-gak Hall to the rear of both the Geukrak-jeon Hall and the Myeongbu-jeon Hall. The Sanshin-gak Hall was built in the mid-1990s. The exterior walls to this shaman shrine hall are simple. Stepping inside the Sanshin-gak Hall, you’ll find a rather conventional image of Sanshin (The Mountain Spirit) being joined by a pair of dongja (attendants) with one carrying a large basket of peaches (a symbol of immortality).

How To Get There

From the Cheongdo Intercity Bus Terminal, you’ll need to take Bus #7 to get to Daejeoksa Temple. You’ll need to take this bus for five stops and get off at the “Songgeum-ri – 송금리 하차” bus stop. The bus ride should last about 25 minutes. From where the bus drops you off, you’ll need to walk about ten minutes, or 700 metres, to get to the temple. The temple is situated to the left of the Cheongdo Wine Tunnel.

And if public transportation isn’t your thing, you can take a taxi from the Cheongdo Intercity Bus Terminal to get to Daejeoksa Temple. The bus ride will take about 15 minutes, over 10 km, and it’ll cost you about 14,000 won (one way).

Overall Rating: 6/10

By far, the main highlight at Daejeoksa Temple is the Geukrak-jeon Hall. The murals painted inside the main hall are stunning. In addition to these murals, you can also enjoy the stone reliefs adorning the foundation and stone stairs leading up to the main hall, as well. And if you look particularly closely, you’ll see a pair of rather oddly sculpted images of dragons near the signboard of the Geukrak-jeon Hall’s entryway. Like I said, the main hall is the focal point of any temple in Korea, but it’s especially the case at Daejeoksa Temple.

Temple History

Sujeongsa Temple is a popular name for temples in Korea. However, this Sujeongsa Temple is located in Cheongsong, Gyeongsangsangbuk-do to the southwest of Mt. Bibongsan (670.9 m). It’s believed that the temple was first founded by the monk Naong Hyegeun (1320-1376) during the reign of King Gongmin of Goryeo (r. 1351-1374). And the reason that Naong named the temple Sujeongsa Temple, which means “Crystal Temple” in English, is because the surrounding scenery around the temple was beautiful. Additionally, the spring water that flowed from the mountains and into the valley where Sujeongsa Temple was located was crystal clear.

Originally, Sujeongsa Temple was eight or nine buildings in size. Also, it was located about one hundred metres away from its current location. However, all the buildings were destroyed by fire about 300 years ago, so the temple moved later to its current location. Sujeongsa Temple was rebuilt during the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910).

Recently, and in a field in front of the current Iljumun Gate, the remains of foundation stones that appear to be those of a pagoda were found. This evidence helped prove the location of the former temple site that had only been handed down as a possibility. From this evidence, combined with former speculation, it’s believed that Sujeongsa Temple was once a very large temple in possession of a lot of land. Currently, this temple is run by nuns.

The Daeung-jeon Hall at Sujeongsa Temple in Cheongsong, Gyeongsangbuk-do is Gyeongsangbuk-do Cultural Heritage Material #73.

Temple Layout

At the end of a long valley, and next to a meandering stream, you’ll find Sujeongsa Temple. As you approach the temple from the west, you’ll find the aforementioned Iljumun Gate. This slender entry gate is about a kilometre out from the rest of the temple grounds. Eventually, you’ll find yourself in the temple parking lot. Just to the right of the nuns’ dorms, and to the left, you’ll find yourself squarely at the edge of the main temple courtyard.

There are just a couple of shrine halls at Sujeongsa Temple. Straight ahead of you is the Daeung-jeon Hall. The exterior walls to the main hall are adorned with various Buddhist motif murals. Stepping inside the Daeung-jeon Hall, and resting on the main altar, are a triad of statues centred by Seokgamoni-bul (The Historical Buddha). This central image is joined on either side by Munsu-bosal (The Bodhisattva of Wisdom) and Bohyeon-bosal (The Bodhisattva of Power). These statues are white and gold and backed by a stunning gold-leaf main altar mural. To the left of the main altar are two additional paintings. The first of the two is dedicated to Chilseong (The Seven Stars), while the other is a Shinjung Taenghwa (Guardian Mural). And to the right of the main altar is a mural dedicated to Jijang-bosal (The Bodhisattva of the Afterlife).

To the right rear of the Daeung-jeon Hall, you’ll find a compact shrine hall. This is the temple’s Sanshin-gak Hall, which is dedicated to Sanshin (The Mountain Spirit). While the exterior walls to this shaman shrine hall are plainly adorned in simple dancheong colours, with the roof adorned with manja, the interior houses a large, elaborate painting dedicated to Sanshin. And the Mountain Spirit is joined by a golden-eyed tiger that acts as his companion.

How To Get There

The easiest way to get to the rather remote Sujeongsa Temple in Cheongsong, Gyeongsangbuk-do is to take a taxi from the Cheongsong Intercity Bus Terminal. The ride should take about 15 minutes, over 12 km, and it’ll cost you around 15,000 won (one way).

Overall Rating: 6/10

While there isn’t one outstanding main highlight to Sujeongsa Temple in Cheongsong, Gyeongsangbuk-do, there is an accumulation of several smaller highlights like the architecture of the Daeung-jeon Hall, the main altar triad inside the Daeung-jeon Hall, the Sanshin (Mountain Spirit) painting inside the shaman shrine hall, as well as the beautiful mountains that surround the temple. It all adds up to make for a nice little visit to a lesser known temple in a lesser traveled part of Korea.

Temple History

Jirimsa Temple is located to the east of Mt. Hogolsan (283.4 m) in northern Bonghwa, Gyeongsangbuk-do. Historic records indicate that there was once a great temple called “Hanjeol” in Bukji-ri, Bonghwa during the Silla Dynasty (57 B.C. – 935 A.D.). Purportedly, the main temple was surrounded by 27 smaller temples, where about 500 monks lived.

There’s also a temple legend surrounding the founding of neighbouring Chukseosa Temple and Jirimsa Temple. According to this legend, the head monk at Jirimsa Temple saw an auspicious light emanating from the side of the mountain. The head monk then told Uisang-daesa (625-702 A.D.) who was visiting Jirimsa Temple at the time. When Uisang-daesa climbed the mountain, he found an image of Birojana-bul (The Buddha of Cosmic Energy), which was shining. Afterwards, Uisang-daesa built a temple where he found the statue of Birojana-bul, and he enshrined the statue of Birojana-bul at this new temple. This would be Chukseosa Temple, which was founded in 673 A.D.

Eventually, and during the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), Jirimsa Temple would be destroyed by fire. It was finally around 1949 that the monk Gwon Bohun built a small shrine hall and called it Suwolam Hermitage. Eventually, the temple would grow to include a couple of shrine halls, monks’ dorms, and a pavilion for the temple’s National Treasure.

The National Treasure, which is National Treasure #201, is the “Rock-carved Seated Buddha in Bukji-ri, Bonghwa.”

Temple Layout

From the temple parking lot, you’ll notice the Daeungbo-jeon Hall straight ahead you. The exterior walls are adorned in Buddhist related murals. And at the base of the front doors to the Daeungbo-jeon Hall, you’ll find colourful Gwimyeon (Monster Masks) staring in every direction. Stepping inside the Daeungbo-jeon Hall, you’ll find a triad of statues underneath a large, golden datjib (canopy). In the centre of this triad is an image dedicated to Seokgamoni-bul (The Historical Buddha). And joining this central image on the main altar are Amita-bul (The Buddha of the Western Paradise) and Yaksayeorae-bul (The Medicine Buddha, and the Buddha of the Eastern Paradise). Hanging on the far right wall is a large, modern Shinjung Taenghwa (Guardian Mural).

To the right of the Daeungbo-jeon Hall are the monks’ dorms and the administrative office. To the left of the main hall, on the other hand, you’ll find the Geukrak-jeon Hall. The exterior walls are filled with images of the Dragon Ship of Wisdom, Jijang-bosal (The Bodhisattva of the Afterlife), Gwanseeum-bosal (The Bodhisattva of Compassion), and the death of Seokgamoni-bul (The Historical Buddha). Stepping inside the Geukrak-jeon Hall, you’ll find a central image of Amita-bul. Rather uniquely, this image of the Buddha of the Western Paradise is all-white. To the right of this central image is a red-accented mural dedicated to Chilseong (The Seven Stars). And to the left of the all-white image of Amita-bul, you’ll find a mural dedicated to Sanshin (The Mountain Spirit). Sanshin rests on a large mountain ridge. As he rests, he sits on a green mat with an image of a stout tiger at the Mountain Spirit’s side.

To the left of the Geukrak-jeon Hall, and under a newly built wooden pavilion, you’ll find the “Rock-carved Seated Buddha in Bukji-ri, Bonghwa.” This 4.3 metre tall image dates back to the late seventh century. The image was carved inside a hole dug into a large rock. The central image has a big, round face. And it displays a gentle smile on its realistic face. The robe covers both of its shoulders, and it has U-shaped folds on its chest that comes down to the pedestal. The right hand is raised to its chest, while the left hand lies on its lap. There’s a nimbus that surrounds its head. The nimbus is covered in lotus flower patterns that are quite elaborate in design. Joining this large central image are four additional images. However, because of the wear caused by the centuries of erosion, it’s impossible to discern who these images may be, whether they’re Buddhas or Bodhisattvas. However, one thing that can be discerned is that large nimbuses surround each of the four seated smaller images.

How To Get There

The easiest way to get to Jirimsa Temple from the Bonghwa Bus Terminal is to simply take a taxi. The taxi ride should take about 10 minutes, or 6 km, and cost you 9,000 won (one way). So if you’re travelling in a group, this might be the best option.

However, if this isn’t an option, for whatever reason, you can also take a bus to get to Jirimsa Temple from the Bonghwa Bus Terminal. You’ll need to take Bus #21 for eight stops. You’ll need to get off at the “Bukji – Sutgol Bus Stop – 북지숫골 하차.” From this bus stop, you’ll need to walk about 7 minutes, or 500 metres, to the west across the stream. In total, the bus ride and walk should take about 25 minutes.

Overall Rating: 6/10

Jirimsa Temple has undergone a lot of recent renovations and rebuilds. Both the Daeungbo-jeon Hall and the Geukrak-jeon Hall are around ten years old. They are stunning, both inside and out, especially the artwork housed inside the Geukrak-jeon Hall and the dancheong that adorns the exterior of the Daeungbo-jeon Hall. But with all that being said, it’s the stunning “Rock-carved Seated Buddha in Bukji-ri, Bonghwa” that’s the main highlight to the temple.