Gionji Temple

It is said to be a place where religion, art, and technology from the Unified Silla period are in perfect harmony.Bulguksa TempleIt is designated as a World Heritage Site along withSeokguram GrottoAfter admiring the view, drive along the widening foot of the mountain towards the Tokai region for about 0 minutes to reach Kirimsa Temple.

When I finally arrived at the parking lot of Girimsa Temple, I was surprised to see that it was larger and better maintained than I had expected. After paying the parking and entrance fees, I entered the path to the temple, and felt a sense of peace as I listened to the cool breeze blowing from the foot of Mt. Hamwolsan and the sound of the water.

Gion Temple's mountain gate

What attracts me the most about Girimsa Temple on Mt. Hamwol is the "Daejakkojeon Hall" that forms the center of the temple. Following the signboard that tells me that the main hall is on the opposite side of the Haeuso (a Korean term for a toilet in a temple), I pass under the Tennomon Gate and the elegant "Daejakkojeon Hall" appears in front of me.

The Tennomon Gate of Girinji Temple, where the Four Heavenly Kings stand

The Daijakkoden Hall of Kirimusa Temple, designated as a national treasure
Treasure No. 833 of the Great Jakkoden Hall of Gyeonju Gyinji Temple

In front of the Daijakkoden (Treasure No. 833), on the right is a 500-year-old linden tree towering high into the sky. On the left is the three-story stone pagoda (Tangible Cultural Property No. 205) in front of the Oshinden Hall, exuding a pristine antique charm.

The temple grounds can be roughly divided into three parts: the Daejakkojeon Hall, dedicated to the Three Buddhas of the World, at the center, the Oshinjeon Hall (Tangible Cultural Property No. 214) with its three-story stone pagoda to the right, and the Yakushijeon Hall to the left. Daejakkojeon Hall is a wooden building with five bays in front and three bays on the side that was built during the Joseon Dynasty as the main hall of Girimsa Temple, and boasts an elegant gabled roof with entasis columns that bulge in the middle of the pillars.

Seated Vairocana Buddha Statue, Treasure No. 958

There are three Buddha statues enshrined in the lecture hall of Dai Jakkoden, the one in the middle is Virosana Buddha, on the left is Roshana Buddha, and on the right is Shakyamuni Buddha. It is said to have been made after the Bunroku-Keicho Invasion, as its position and facial expression are similar to those of the clay triad Buddha (Treasure No. 3). A short distance from Dai Jakkoden are the Myofuden, Sanseigakku, Kannonden, and Sanjinkaku, as well as the museum.

A temple where the sounds of water, wind, and wind chimes combine to create a mysterious beauty.

An interesting story about Goisui: If you visit Girimusa Temple and admire the Daejakkoden Hall and the Seated Dry Lacquer Bodhisattva statue, you can say that you have seen all the important relics.

linden

While admiring the beauty of the linden tree branches and listening to the sound of the wind rustling through the bamboo grove, I am reminded of an interesting folk tale handed down at Girimsa Temple about Ojeongsu, famous for being water that can have five different flavors.

Next to the three-story stone pagoda in front of the Daijakkoden Hall is the Shogun Water, which is said to make one's body grow and produce adults and generals, and inside the Tennomon Gate is the Crow Pecking Water, which is said to be drunk by crows because it tastes so good. Outside the Tennomon Gate is the Mingyan Water, which makes one's spirit grand and their eyes pure, the Hejing Water in the rear garden makes one's mind peaceful the more one drinks it, and the Kanro Water in Beiyan is said to be like the dew that descends from heaven.

However, during the colonial period, the Japanese feared the emergence of a Shogun with outstanding abilities and character, so they blocked off the Shogun Water source and filled in the well. Other wells are gradually drying up, and it seems that we can no longer enjoy the taste of the water that once was.

Relics Exhibition Hall

A rare dry lacquer bodhisattva statue, rare even in Korea
Girimsa Museum is where various important relics are exhibited, including the clothing relic from Vairocana Buddha in the Daejakkwangjeon Hall. Along with the Daejakkwangjeon Hall, the museum also has another relic that draws visitors in: a Bodhisattva statue.

The 91cm tall Kannon Bodhisattva half-seated statue (Treasure No. 415) enshrined at Kirimsa Temple is a dry lacquer Buddha. Dry lacquer Buddhas are made by first creating a shape out of mud, wrapping it in linen cloth, and then applying mud powder on top of it. Once dry, the muddy interior is removed, and the Buddha is then painted over with lacquer to create a paper Buddha. Buddhas made in this way are rare, but now that they have been painted with gold leaf, they no longer have the original feel of a dry lacquer Buddha.

The sculpture is intricate, and the face and slightly plump physique are exotic, so it seems to have been influenced by China. The left foot is raised on the pedestal, the right foot is lowered under the pedestal, the right hand is placed on the knee, and the left hand is slightly pulled back to hold the pedestal, but on the head is a hat engraved with arabesque patterns, and the hanging hem of the clothes is beautiful.

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The origin of Gionji Temple

Currently, Girimsa Temple is a branch temple of Bulguksa Temple, but it was a large temple that had Bulguksa as a branch temple until independence on August 8.15. The name Girimsa Temple comes from the "Forest of Kiyonjeongsa" where the Buddha stayed and where his disciples stayed and the number of pavilions increased. Kiyonjeongsa is the place where the Buddha stayed for 20 years after attaining enlightenment.

Based on the record in the "Samguk Yusa" (a similar text to the Nihon Shoki), which states that "King Shinmun, the 31st king of Silla, received a flute called the Manpasikjeok from the previous king who had turned into a sea dragon in the East Sea, and on his way back to the palace, he stopped off to rest for a while by the stream west of Girimsa Temple," it is believed that this is an ancient temple that existed at least before King Shinmun, in the early days of Unified Silla.

One legend states that shortly after Buddhism was introduced to Silla, the Indian monk Gwangyu (Saint Gwangyu) taught 20 disciples at Imjeongsa Temple. Another story also says that later, in the 643th year of the reign of Queen Seondeok (XNUMX), Wonhyo expanded the temple and renamed it Girimsa Temple.

Girimsa Temple, with its clear sounds of water, wind and wind chimes, is a temple with many things to see, including the Great Jakkwangjeon Hall and the Seated Dry Lacquer Bodhisattva (Treasure No. 415), the hidden scriptures discovered inside the Vairocana Buddha in the Great Jakkwangjeon Hall (Treasure No. 959), and the museum, which houses 54 intricately carved scriptures of 71 types, paintings of hell and King Yama, Buddha's relics, tiles, and various books, is well worth a visit. When the gates of Girimsa Temple Museum are closed, you can ask the Buddhist office to open them for you.

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spot name	Gionji Temple Girisha
Address	419 Hoam-ri, Yangbuk-myeon, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do 419 XNUMX
Phone	054-744-2292 FAX 054-744-2269
Admission fee	Free, parking fee 2,000 won
Site	http://www.kirimsa.net/