Buddhist temples are an important part of the Korean landscape. This article gives a brief overview of Korean Buddhism,then describes some of the more important temples in Korea. Most Korean temples have names ending in -sa,which means "temple" in Sino-Korean.
Bulguksa is located on the slopes of Mount Toham. It is a head temple of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism and encompasses six National treasures of South Korea,including the Dabotap and Seokgatap stone pagodas,Cheongun-gyo,and two gilt-bronze statues of Buddha. The temple is classified as Historic and Scenic Site No. 1 by the South Korean government. In 1995,Bulguksa was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List together with the Seokguram Grotto,which lies four kilometers to the east.
Gyeongbokgung,also known as Gyeongbokgung Palace or Gyeongbok Palace,was the main royal palace of the Joseon dynasty. Built in 1395,it is located in northern Seoul,South Korea. The largest of the Five Grand Palaces built by the Joseon dynasty,Gyeongbokgung served as the home of Kings of the Joseon dynasty,the Kings' households,as well as the government of Joseon.
Buddhist temples or Buddhist monasteries together with Shinto shrines,are considered to be amongst the most numerous,famous,and important religious buildings in Japan. The shogunates or leaders of Japan have made it a priority to update and rebuild Buddhist temples since the Momoyama period. The Japanese word for a Buddhist monastery is tera (寺) and the same kanji also has the pronunciation ji,so that temple names frequently end in -dera or -ji. Another ending,-in (院),is normally used to refer to minor temples. Such famous temples as Kiyomizu-dera,Enryaku-ji and Kōtoku-in are temples which use the described naming pattern.
Sŏngbul-sa is a Korean Buddhist temple in Sariwŏn,North Hwanghae Province,North Korea. It is located within the castle on Mt. Jŏngbang and was founded in 898 AD. The temple consists of six buildings,some of which are among the oldest wooden buildings in North Korea.
Sŏgwang-sa is a Korean Buddhist temple located in Sŏlbong-ri in Kosan County,Kangwon Province,North Korea. Once one of Korea's largest Buddhist temples,the complex was mostly destroyed by US bombing in 1951,and today it lies in ruins;however,it is slated to be reconstructed in coming years. It is listed as National Treasure #94
Ryonghŭng-sa is a Korean Buddhist temple in Ponghung-ri,Yŏnggwang-gun,South Hamgyŏng Province,North Korea. Located on the slopes of Mt. Paegun,the temple was founded in 1048 under the Koryo dynasty and later renovated in 1794 under Joseon. The complex includes the following halls:
Ryeongtongsa is a Korean Buddhist temple located on Ogwansan in Kaesong,North Korea.
Taehung Castle is a mountain fortress of the early Goryeo period,located outside Kaesŏng,North Hwanghae Province,North Korea. Originally encompassing both Mts. Chŏnma and Songgo,the castle was first founded as a fortress for the defense of the capital,encircled by over 10 kilometers of stone walls. Today,many of the walls have become overgrown ruins.
Shichidōgaran is a Japanese Buddhist term indicating the seven halls composing the ideal Buddhist temple compound. This compound word is composed by the word shichidō (七堂),literally meaning "seven halls",and garan (伽藍),meaning "temple". The term is often shortened to just garan. Which seven halls the term refers to varies,and it is also pointed out that 七堂is possibly a misinterpretation of shitsudō (悉堂),meaning a complete temple. In practice,shichidōgaran often simply means a large temple with many buildings. See below for more details about what are the possible seven buildings included.
Kaesim-sa is a Korean Buddhist temple located in the Chilbosan Mountains,North Hamgyong Province,North Korea. Founded in 826 under the Palhae kingdom and restored in 1377 by the Koryo dynasty,the temple long served as a religious retreat. The temple serves as a repository for many important buddhist sculptures,paintings,and scriptures. The temple grounds also hold a 180 kg bronze bell dating from 1764 and a famed 200-year-old chestnut tree. It is one of National Treasures of North Korea. The temple comprises the following buildings:
Kwanŭm-sa is a Korean Buddhist temple located within Taehung Castle on Mt. Chonma near Kaesong,North Korea. The site is one of the National Treasures of North Korea. Named after Guanyin,the buddhist bodhisattva of compassion,this small temple is located in the valley between Mts. Chonma and Songgo. The temple was founded in 970 when a monk deposited two marble statues of the goddess in a cave behind the temple's current location. The temple itself was constructed in 1393 under the Koryo Dynasty,and later renovated in 1646 under the Joseon. The site contains many ancient relics,including a seven-story pagoda from the Koryo dynasty and the ancient Guanyin statues in Kwanum Cave. The doors of the main shrine,known as the Taeung Hall,are decorated with carved flowers and leaves;an old legend relays why the decorations on one door are unfinished. During the reconstruction of the temple during the Joseon dynasty,one of the main carvers was a twelve-year-old boy named Unna,famed for his skill in carving. One day,while working on the temple,he heard his mother was seriously ill,and asked to be allowed to visit her. He was refused,and his mother died shortly after. He blamed himself and his skillful hands for his mother's death,and so out of grief used his carving axe to chop off his hand. He then disappeared into the forest,never to be seen again. Today,a carving of a boy with one hand ascending to heaven on the back of a white tiger can still be seen on the unfinished door.
Anguk-sa is a Korean Buddhist temple situated in Pyongsong,South Pyongan Province,North Korea. Built on the slopes of Mt. Pongrin,the temple dates to the Koryo dynasty,though all of the buildings date to later Joseon dynasty renovations. The building is registered as National Treasure #34.
Singye-sa is a Korean Buddhist temple located in Onjong-ri in Kosong County,Kangwon Province,North Korea. Once one of the largest of the hundreds of temples located in scenic Mount Kumgang,the complex was destroyed by US bombings during the Korean War. It was reconstructed in 2004 as an inter-Korean cultural project. It is listed as National Treasure #95.
P'yohun-sa is a Korean Buddhist temple located on Mount Kumgang,North Korea. Founded in the 7th century under the kingdom of Silla,it is the only one of Mount Kumgang's four great temples to have survived the Korean War. It is listed as the #97 National Treasures of North Korea.
Anhwa-sa is a Korean Buddhist temple located on Mt. Songak in the historic city of Kaesong,North Korea. Once one of the smallest of the many temples in Kaesong,today it is the only one to have survived the Korean War.
Seonam Temple,or Seonamsa,is a Korean Buddhist temple on the eastern slope at the west end of Jogyesan Provincial Park,within the northern Seungjumyeon District of the city of Suncheon,South Jeolla Province,South Korea. It belongs to the Taego Order although the Jogye Order claims possession over it.
The Sokka Pagoda of the Pohyonsa Buddhist temple is a 13-storeyed octagonal pagoda located at Mt. Myohyang,Hyangam-ri,Hyangsan County,North Phyongan Province,North Korea. It is listed as a National Treasure of North Korea.
The Kwangbop Temple is an historic structure located in Mt. Taesong,Pyongyang,North Korea. Built during the early period of Koguryo during the reign of King Kwanggaetho,it is listed as item 164 on the list of National Treasures of North Korea.
Jeongyangsa,also romanized Chŏngyang-sa,was a Korean Buddhist temple on Mount Geumgang (금강산,金剛山). This temple was known as the best scenic spot in the Mount Geumgang area. Located at an altitude of 848m,it overlooks the Pyohunsa temple,located 1km eastwards and 200m below,on the banks of the Donggeumgang River.
