Jangyuksa Temple Stay

Two days and one night at Jangyuksa Temple

Even the color of the stone wall path has an elegant shine of yellow soil. It suits the function and structure of the temple. It's as if nature formed it like that. At times, it leads to stairs and other times, it leads to a dirt path. The path extends around Daeungjeon Hall in a square formation.

Below Mt. Unseosan where clouds lingered, there is a place with a nice forest and clear water. It has a very modern interior for a temple. It's more like seeing a restoration of an old fortress which turned into an art museum. Jangyuksa Temple was built by Buddhist Priest Naong at the end of the Goryeo Period. It was built a long time ago, but it was destroyed by fire during King Sejong's reign and was rebuilt. Jangyuksa Temple is located in Yeongdeok, but it is the only temple with temple stay in the Yeongnam east coast including Pohang, Cheongseong, Yeongyang and Uljin. It is a place with the added beauty of a unique atmosphere amidst the sentiments of Mt. Unseosan.

With two Tangible Cultural Properties, Daeungjeon Hall itself is a cultural property. To the left of Daeungjeon Hall is Gwaneumjeon Hall with Treasures No. 993, Seated Buddha of Jangyuksa Temple. The seated Buddha was made of clay and covered with hemp cloth and several layers of paper, then plated with gold. Jangyuksa also has Hongnyeonam Hermitage, which Buddhist priest Naong built when he settled at the site here. Buddhist priest Naong had many students. He even taught Buddhist Priest Muhak law. Hongnyeonam Hermitage enshrines Jigong, Naong and Muhak. From the highest point of Jangyuksa Temple, it reminisces about the past 700 years.

Jangyuksa Temple Stay

Temple stay is a cultural experience to experience the daily life of an ascetic. It is a time to learn about the traditional culture and spirit of Korean Buddhism which has a history of 1,700 years. The head priest presides over the program, so it is even more inspiring. The temple stay is available as a 2-day or 3-day experience.

When you arrive, you start by changing and watching a video to learn about the basics of a temple. It is a time to introduce the temple and the other people there. After dinner and worship, there is a time of rest and then bell toll. After the Daeungjeon worship, it is time to experience Zen meditation. After an hour or two, everyone returns to their rooms to get some sleep. Wake up time is at 3:30 a.m. and the second day begins with 33 bell tolls. After 108 bows and morning worship, there is a meal with traditional bowls. It is time to learn about meal etiquette. After that, there is group labor followed by individual experience programs like threading 108 rosary beads or rubbing from a sutra. The participants write a report of the experience and take souvenir photos. The rubber shoes and clothes are returned. The experience ends after you bow and say goodbye. It isn't just about Buddhist worship. You learn about eating meals, meditating, bell toll, group labor and dressing. Whatever daily activity it is, everything is meaningful and can be learned from. Temple stay is an opportunity to meet a new and purified self.

Let's take a look at the treasures and cultural properties at Jangyuksa Temple. The seated Buddha of Jangyuksa Temple in Gwaneumjeon Hall is Treasures No. 993. It is 86cm high and decorated with beads on the sleeves, stomach and legs. It is certain that it is from the early Joseon Period and is helpful in estimating the time of other works.

In Daeungjeon Hall (Tangible Cultural Properties No. 138), there is the Yeongsanhoesangdo Painting (Gyeongsangbuk-do Tangible Cultural Properties No. 373). It is a painting of Buddha preaching to Buddhist saints at Lingjiu Mountain. Jijangbosaldo, painting of Ksitigarbha (Gyeongsangbuk-do Tangible Cultural Properties No. 374), is a painting of a generous Buddhist saint who reforms all beings from the time Sakyamuni dies until Maitreya appears.

Daeungjeon Hall is Gyeongsangbuk-do Tangible Cultural Properties No. 138. It was built in the early Joseon Period. It has the typical early Joseon structure of three sections in the front and three in the side. It is a wooden building with tile roofs. The gambrel roof is painted with gold designs. The seated Buddha (Treasures No. 993) made of paper is valuable because the production date is certain.

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