Buddhist temples in Korea


are an important part of the Korean landscape. Most Korean temples have names ending in -sa, which means "monastery" in Sino-Korean.
Many temples participate in the Templestay program, where visitors can experience Buddhist culture and even stay at the temple overnight.

Background

A distinctive form of Buddhism evolved in Korea. This was facilitated by the geographical location and cultural conditions. Buddhism first arrived in Korea in 372 in Goguryeo. In 374 the influential Han Chinese monk Ado arrived in the kingdom and inspired King Sosurim of Goguryeo the following year. The first two temples Seongmunsa and Ilbullansa were built in 375 on the order of the king. Buddhism soon became the national religion of Goguryeo.
With the advent of Taoism in 624 the rulers began to suppress Buddhism and its importance quickly declined. The Baekje Kingdom, on the other hand, flourished under the influence of Buddhism. In 552 Buddhist scriptures were sent to Japan. This eventually led to the establishment of Buddhism in Japan.
Buddhism also flourished in Silla, during the reign of Jinheung of Silla. Heungnyunsa was built, where any commoner could become a monk. The study of scriptures was greatly highlighted. For about 250 years Buddhism thrived in Later Silla.
Buddhism was admired by Wang Geon, who was enthroned as Taejo of Goryeo. Throughout the country pagodas and other Buddhist structures were built.
In late Goryeo, Buddhism became linked with corruption of the regime. A great number of monks were involved in politics. Bit by bit anti-Buddhist sentiments grew, leading to chaos which was ended by the establishment of Joseon. Taejo of Joseon himself was a devout Buddhist, but the influence of monks was reduced. At times monks were treated as outcasts, but generally there was no hindrance to their practising. Buddhist heritage can be found all over the country in the form of temples, pagodas, sculptures, paintings, handicrafts and buildings.

Typical Layout

A typical Korean temple consists of the following elements:
  1. Iljumun – One pillar gate found at the entrance to temple grounds
  2. Sacheonwangmun, also Cheonwangmun - Gate of the Four Heavenly Kings, to mark the entrance of the temple's boundaries
  3. Beopdang – Dharma hall, used for lectures and sermons
  4. Monastic quarters
  5. Jonggo – bell tower
  6. Daeungjeon – main shrine hall housing the temple's main Buddha images
  7. Pagoda
  8. Myeongbujeon – judgment hall, housing an image of the bodhisattva Kshitigarbha and depictions of the Buddhist hell
  9. Nahanjeon – Hall of the Arhats
  10. Sansingak – a shamanic shrine dedicated to the mountain god Sansin, who can be depicted as both a male or a female. Sometimes called chilseong-gak or samseong-gak, this shrine is usually found behind the main shrine hall.
  11. Hermitage

North Korea

It is reported that many temples have been taken over by the state. Once the government controls these buildings, they are used mainly as museums of ancient Korean traditions. A few temples are still in use and they are considered National Treasures. Though few temples in large cities survived the US carpet bombings of the Korean War, many still survive in rural areas, and some of the more famous, large temples destroyed have since been rebuilt. All in all, there are 300 temples.

South Korea

There are about 900 traditional Buddhist temples in South Korea, out of about 20,000 Buddhist temples in total.

Notable temples in both Koreas



The following list is sorted by Romanized names, but it also can be sorted by Korean names, by provinces, or by counties.
Some Korean names, and founding dates are to be completed.
A star in the first column denotes the 31 head temples designated during the Japanese colonial period.
*ProvinceTempleLocationCountyHangeulHanjaFounded
NK South HamgyongAnbulsaTonghung-riKumya-gun안불사安佛寺1393
NK KangwonAnbyon PohyonsaRyongsin-riAnbyŏn-gun보현사普賢寺1028
NK South PyonganAnguksaPonghak-dongPyongsong-si안국사安國寺503
NK North HwanghaeAnhwasaKoryo-dongKaesong-si안화사安和寺930
*SK South JeollaBaegyangsaBukha-myeonJangseong-gun백양사白羊寺632
SK GangwonBaekdamsanear SeoraksanInje-gun백담사百潭寺650 circa
SK North GyeongsangBaekryulsa in GyeongjuGeumgangsan, Dongcheon-dongGyeongju-si백률사栢栗寺692
SK South JeollaBaengnyeonsaDoam-myeonGangjin-gun백련사白蓮寺650 circa
*SK South GyeongsangBeomeosaGeumjeongsanBusan-si범어사梵魚寺678
SK Jeju IslandBeophwasa--
*SK North ChungcheongBeopjusaSongnisan, Naesongni-myeonBoeun-gun법주사法住寺553
SK North GyeongsangBogyeongsa--602
SK GyeonggiBomunsa--1115
*SK SeoulBongeunsaSamseong-dongGangnam-gu봉은사奉恩寺794
SK North GyeongsangBongjeongsaCheondeungsanAndong-si봉정사鳳停寺672
SK GyeonggiBongnyeongsa--1208
*SK GyeonggiBongseonsaJinjeop-eupNamyangju봉선사奉先寺969
SK SeoulBongwonsaBongwon-dongSeodaemun-gu봉원사奉元寺889
*SK North JeollaBoseoksa?--보석사寶石寺886
SK North GyeongsangBulguksa Tohamsan, Jinheon-dongGyeongju-si불국사佛國寺528 and 751
SK North GyeongsangBuseoksaBonghwangsanYeongju-si부석사浮石寺676
NK South HwanghaeChahyesaSowon-riSinchon-gun자혜사慈惠寺
NK KangwonChangansa×Naegang-riKumgang-gun장안사長安寺
SK GangwonCheongpyeongsa--
NK South HamgyongChonggwangsa×Wonsa-riRiwon-gun정광사定光寺
NK South PyonganChongjinsaHyangpung-riSongchon-gun정진사淨進寺
NK PyongyangChongrungsa*Ryongsan-riRyokpo-guyok정릉사定陵寺
NK KangwonChongyangsaNaegang-riKumgang-gun정양사正陽寺
NK North PyonganChonjusaYangsanYongbyon-gun천주사天柱寺1684
NK RyanggangChunghŭngsaKwanp'yŏng-riSamsu-gun중흥사重興寺
*SK South JeollaDaeheungsaDuryunsan, Samsan cityHaenam-gun대흥사大興寺514 ?
SK GangwonDeungmyeong-nakgasa--
*SK North GyeongsangDonghwasaPalgongsan, Dohak-dong, Dong-guDaegu-si동화사桐華寺493 and 832
SK SeoulDoseonsaBukhansan : 264 Ui-dongGangbuk-gu도선사道詵寺862
*SK North GyeongsangEunhaesa?Cheongtong-myeonYeongcheon은해사銀海寺
SK North JeollaEunsusaMaisan Jinan-gun은수사銀水寺
*SK GangwonGeonbongsa*???Goseong-gun건봉사乾鳳寺
SK North JeollaGeumdangsaMaisan Jinan-gun금당사金塘寺814
SK North JeollaGeumsansaMoaksanGimje-si금산사金山寺600 and 770
SK South JeollaGeumtapsaCheondeungsan, Podu-myeonGoheung-gun금탑사金塔寺650 circa
*SK North GyeongsangGimryongsa?--김룡사金龍寺
*SK North GyeongsangGirimsaHamwolsanGyeongju-si기림사祇林寺643
*SK North GyeongsangGo-unsa ?--고운사孤雲寺
SK North GyeongsangGolgulsaYangbuk-MyeonGyeongju-si골굴사骨窟寺*
SK North ChungcheongGuinsaSobaeksanDanyang-gun구인사救仁寺1945
SK GangwonGuryongsa--
SK SeoulGwaneumsa --관음사觀音寺
SK Jeju IslandGwaneumsa --
SK SeoulGyeongguksa753 Jeongneung-dongJongno-gu경국사慶國寺1325
NK North PyonganHabiro HermitageHyangam-riHyangsan-gun하비로암下毘盧庵
SK South GyeongsangHaedong Yonggungsa???Busan-si해동용궁사海東龍宮寺
*SK South GyeongsangHaeinsaGayasanHapcheon-gun해인사海印寺802
NK South HwanghaeHakrimsa×Hakrim-riChangyon-gun학림사鶴林寺
NK South HwanghaeHanging HermitageChangsusan, Sorim-riChaeryong-gun현암縣庵
NK South HamgyongHungbok HermitageSudong-riHamhung-si흥복암興復庵
NK North HwanghaeHungwangsa×Sambong-riKaepung-gun흥왕사興王寺
*SK South JeollaHwaeomsaJirisan, Masan-myeonGurye-gun화엄사華嚴寺544
NK North PyonganHwajang HermitageHyangam-riHyangsan-gun화장암華藏庵
SK North GyeongsangHwangnyongsaTohamsanGyeongju National Park황룡사皇龍寺553
NK North HamgyongHwasong SsanggyesaPuam-riMyonggan-gun쌍계사雙磎寺
SK GyeonggiJajaeam--
*SK GyeonggiJeondeungsa???Ganghwa-gun전등사傳燈寺
SK South JeollaJeungsimsaMudeungsanGwangju-si증심사証心寺
SK North GyeongsangJikjisaHwangaksan, Daehang-myeonGimcheon-si직지사直指寺418
SK SeoulJingwansa--진관사津寬寺
SK SeoulJogyesaGyeonji-dongJongno-gu조계사曹溪寺1395 & 1910
NK North HamgyongKaesimsaPochon-riMyongchon-gun개심사開心寺826 and 1377
NK North PyonganKaewonsaTangsang-riKwaksan-gun개원사開元寺
NK South HwanghaeKangsosaKangho-riPaechon-gun강서사江西寺
NK North PyonganKumgwangsaKumgwang-riUiju-gun금광사金光寺
NK PyongyangKwangbopsa*Taesong-dongTaesong-guyok광법사廣法寺
NK South HamgyongKwangjesaChuksang-riPukchong-gun광제사光濟寺
NK North HwanghaeKwanumsaPakyon-riKaesong-si관음사觀音寺970 and 1393
NK North HwanghaeKwijinsaSongwol-riSohung-gun귀진사歸眞寺
*NK South HamgyongKwijusa×Kumsil-dongHamhung-si귀주사歸州寺
NK North PyonganKyejo HermitageHyangam-riHyangsan-gun계조암繼祖庵
*SK South ChungcheongMagoksaTaehwasanGongju-si마곡사麻谷寺640
NK KangwonMahayon Hermitage×Naegang-riKumgang-gun마하연摩訶衍
NK North PyonganMannyonsaSongan-dongKusong-si만년사萬年寺
NK ChagangMansu HermitageChangp'yong-riHuichon-si만수암萬壽庵
NK North PyonganMansu HermitageHyangam-riHyangsan-gun만수암萬壽庵
SK South JeollaMihwangsaDalmasanHaenam-gun미황사美黃寺749
SK North JeollaMireuksaGeumma-myeonIksan-si미륵사彌勒寺602
NK KangwonMyongjoksaYongsam-riWonsan-si명적사明寂寺
SK North JeollaNaesosaJinseo-myeonBuan-gun내소사633
SK GangwonNaksansaGanghyeon-myeonYangyang-gun낙산사洛山寺671
NK North PyonganNungin HermitageHyangam-riHyangsan-gun능인암能仁唵
SK GangwonOseamSeoraksan???오세암五歲庵643
*NK South HwanghaePaeyopsa×Paeyop-riAnak-gun패엽사貝葉寺
SK North GyeongsangPagyesaPalgongsanDaegu-si파계사把溪寺
NK North PyonganPakchon SimwonsaSangyang-riPakchon-gun심원사深源寺
NK PyongyangPobun HermitageRyongbong-riMangyongdae-guyok법운암法雲庵
NK KangwonPodok HermitageNaegang-riKumgang-gun보덕암普德庵
*NK North PyonganPohyonsaHyangam-riHyangsan-gun보현사普賢寺1025 circa
NK KangwonPomun HermitageSolbong-riKosan-gun보덕암普德庵
*NK South PyonganPophungsaSinsong-riPyongwon-gun법흥사法興寺
NK North PyonganPowolsaUhyon-riKujang-gun보월사寶月寺
NK North HwanghaePulilsa×Sonjok-riChangpung-gun관음사佛日寺
NK KangwonPulji HermitageNaegang-riKumgang-gun불지암佛地庵
NK South HamgyongPulji HermitagePonghung-riYonggwang-gun불지암佛地庵
NK North PyonganPuryong HermitageHyangam-riHyangsan-gun불영대佛影臺
NK KangwonPyohunsaNaegang-riKumgang-gun표훈사表訓寺670
NK South HamgyongRyangchonsaNakchon-riKowon-gun량천사梁泉寺
NK KangwonRyongchusaMihyon-riAnbyŏn-gun령추사靈鷲寺
NK South HamgyongRyonghungsaPonghung-riYonggwang-gun룡흥사龍興寺1048
NK PyongyangRyonghwasaKaeson-dongMoranbong-guyok룡화사龍華寺
NK North PyonganRyongmunsaRyongdung Worker's DistrictKujang-gun룡문사龍門寺
NK North HwanghaeRyongtongsa*Ryonghung-dongKaesong-si령통사靈通寺1027
SK GangwonSamhwasaSamhwa-dongDonghae-si삼화사三和寺
NK North PyonganSangwon HermitageHyangam-riHyangsan-gun상원암上元庵
*SK South JeollaSeonamsa?JogyesanSuncheon-si선암사仙巖寺
SK Jeju IslandSeondeoksa--
SK North JeollaSeonunsaDosolsan, Asan-myeonGochang-gun선운사禪雲寺577
SK GyeonggiSilleuksa73, Silleuksa-gilYeoju-si신륵사神勒寺580
SK North JeollaSilsangsa???Namwon-si실상사實相寺
NK North HwanghaeYontan SimwonsaYontanYŏntan-gun심원사心源寺*
NK South HwanghaeSingwangsa×Singwang-riHaeju-si신광사神光寺
NK KangwonSingyesa*Onjong-riKosong-gun신계사神溪寺519
SK GangwonSinheungsaSeoraksanSokcho-si신흥사
향성사		神興寺
香城寺		650 circa
*NK South Hamgyong ?Sogwangsa×Solbong-riKosan-gun석왕사釋王寺1386
*NK North HwanghaeSongbulsaJongbang-riSariwon-si성불사成佛寺898
*SK South JeollaSonggwangsaSonggwangsan???송광사松廣寺867 and 1190
NK South HwanghaeSongwol HermitageHakrim-riChangyon-gun송월암松月庵
NK North PyonganSounsaYongbyon???서운사棲雲寺
SK South GyeongsangSsanggyesaJirisan, Hwagae-myeonHadong-gun쌍계사雙磎寺772
SK South ChungcheongSudeoksaDeoksungsan, Deoksan-myeonYesan-gun수덕사修德寺1308
NK North HwanghaeTaehungsaPakyon-riKaesong-si대흥사大興寺
SK North JeollaTapsaMaisan Jinan-gun탑사塔寺1885
NK PyongyangTong-kumgangamsaOsan-riSunan-guyok동금강암사東金剛庵寺
NK South HamgyongTongdoksaTuyon-riTanchon-si동덕사東德寺
*SK South GyeongsangTongdosaChiseosanYangsan-si통도사通度寺646
SK South JeollaUnjusa Doam-myeonHwasun-gun운주사雲住寺
*SK North JeollaWibongsa?--위봉사威鳳寺
*SK GangwonWoljeongsaOdaesanPyeongchang-gun월정사月精寺643
NK South HwanghaeWoljongsaWoljong-riAnak-gun월정사月精寺
NK ChagangWŏnmyŏngsaRyujung-riHuichon-si원명사圓明寺
SK Jeju IslandYakcheonsa293-28 Ieodo-roSeogwipo-si약천사藥泉寺
NK North PyonganYanghwasaSangdan-riTaechon-gun양화사陽和寺
SK SeoulYeonghwasa--영화사永華寺
SK GyeonggiYeonjuam--
*SK GyeonggiYongjusaHwasan, Taean-eupHwaseong-si용주사龍珠寺854
*NK PyongyangYongmyongsa×NK Moranbong ParkMoranbong-guyok영명사永明寺*
*NK KangwonYujomsa×Naegang-riKumgang-gun유점사楡岾寺550 circa and 1168