Naesosa Temple
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Location243, Naesosa-ro Jinseo-myeon, Buan-gun, Jeollabuk-do
- CategoryTour/ Temple ∙ Local Confucian school
- Korean내소사
- Chinese來蘇寺
- Nickname소래사
- FieldReligion/Buddhism
- Contents Type기관 단체/사찰
- Original Location243, Naesosa-ro Jinseo-myeon, Buan-gun, Jeollabuk-do
- Current Location243, Naesosa-ro Jinseo-myeon, Buan-gun, Jeollabuk-do
- Definition
- A temple of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, located in Seokpo-ri, Buan-gun, Jeollabuk-do.
- Summary
- Naesosa Temple is a branch of Seonunsa, the head temple of the 24th district of the Jogye Order.
The temple nestles below Gwaneumbong, a peak overlooking Julpoman Bay, situated about 6km south of Wolmyeongam Hermitage, at the end of a mountain ridge.
- Background and History
- Naesosa is believed to have been constructed in 633 (the 34th year of the reign of King Mu of Baekje) by the monk Hyegu Duta. The Buddhist temple was originally called "Soraesa." At the time of construction, the sanctuary contained two temples, Daesoraesa and Sosoraesa, both of which were lost. A thousand years later, in 1633 (the 11th year of King Injo's reign), the temple was revived with the construction of Daeungbojeon Hall by Seon master Cheongmin. In 1640 (the 18th year of King Injo's reign) Seolseondang Hall and the Living quarters of monks were constructed by the monk Cheongyeong. In 1902 (the 39th year of King Gojong's reign), the temple was rehabilitated by the monk Gwanhae. In 1983, following the appointment of Seon master Hyesan as the head monk, Iljumun Gate was erected, with Daeungbojeon Hall renovated two years later, in 1985. In 1986, Cheonwangmun Gate was added to the temple grounds at the same time as Seolseondang Hall and the living quarters of monks were refurbished. In 1987, Bongnaeru Pavilion was disassembled and restored. In 1988, new living quarters of monks named "Jinhwasa" was constructed. With the addition in 1995 of Sugak ('Over-water Pavilion') and a bell pavilion and a bronze temple bell, Naesosa Temple acquired its present-day appearance as a fully-fledged temple complex.
- Events and Activities
- In addition to annual events such as the New Year's Day ceremony, memorial services, tea ceremonies for the heavenly bliss of the deceased, Buddha's birthday and Chuseok ceremonies, various prayers are held at Naesosa Temple throughout the year. Services are observed on the first day of every month, as well as on the 18th (Jijang-jaeil) and the 24th (Gwaneum-jaeil). A variety of programs for the faithful and the general public are also offered, such as Temple Stay, 'Temple Concert,' 'Scripture Academy,' 'Eco Academy' and 'Pilgrimage Tour.' Naesosa Temple is actively involved in social outreach, making donations toward scholarships for disadvantaged students and visiting and sponsoring orphanages and other residential care institutions for vulnerable children. Every year, on the day of the first full moon of the New Year (Daeboreum), a village guardian mountain ritual (Dangsanje) takes place outside Iljumun Gate, a long-standing custom greatly illustrative of the convergence of Buddhism and native religion.
- Overview (including organization and facilities)
- Naesosa Temple consists of Iljumun Gate, Cheonwangmun Gate, a stupa garden (Budojeon), two bell pavilions (Bojonggak and Beomjonggak), Bongnaeru Pavilion, Seolseondang Hall with the signboard bearing the temple's name and the adjoining living quarters of monks, Bohyeondang Hall which doubles as the temple office, and Hoeseungdang Hall which serves as the accommodation for temple stay guests. The temple grounds comprise several halls of worship such as Daeungbojeon, Gwansimdang, Josadang, Jijangjeon, Gwaneumjeon, as well as Bongnae Zen Meditation Center, Jinhwasa and Samseonggak Shrine.
Daeungbojeon Hall houses a statue of Shakyamuni with two attendant Bodhisattvas, Manjushri and Samantabhadra, on either side. This worship hall is believed to have been built in 1633 at the time of the reconstruction of Naesosa Temple by Seon master Cheongmin. The building extends three kan (traditional unit of measurement corresponding to the distance between two pillars) on the front and sides and is surmounted by a hip-and-gable roof. The bracket structure integrates the so-called intercolumnar bracket system in which ornate bracket sets, supporting the extended roof, are used not just above the capitals of columns but also between the columns. These outward projected, interlocking brackets are prime examples of the classical style of mid-Joseon architecture. The intricate floral grid latticework that adorns the doors is an elegant testament to the outstanding skills of artisans of yore. The statues are set against a painting depicting a seated, white-robed Avalokitesvara, the largest of its kind to survive in Korea. The calligraphy on the signboard outside Daeungbojeon is by the hand of Wongyo Yi Gwang-sa (1705-1777). Naesosa Temple has two hermitages, Jijangam and Cheongnyeonam. Jijangam sits on the former site of Eunjeogam, a hermitage constructed in early Unified Silla by Precepts Master Jinpyo. Precepts Master Jinpyo spent three years praying in this hermitage, at the end of which he is said to have received from Ksitigarbha the prophecy of one day becoming a Buddha. The hermitage was restored in 1940 by the monk Haean, who named it "Jijangam" (Ksitigarbha Hermitage). Following the creation of the meditation hall, Seoraeseollim, in 1950, Jijangam Hermitage became the epicenter of Buddhist revival and the Zen Buddhist movement in the Honam region. In addition to Seoraeseollim, Jijangam Hermitage comprises Nahanjeon Hall and Jayangdang Hall.
- Cultural Heritage
- Historic buildings and Buddhist treasures of Naesosa Temple that are currently designated as cultural heritage include Daeungbojeon Hall of Naesosa Temple(Treasure No. 291), Bronze Bell of Naesosa Temple(Goryeo Bronze Bell; Treasure No. 277), Transcription of Saddharmapundarika Sutra (The Lotus Sutra) in Ink on White Paper (Treasure No. 278), Hanging Painting of Naesosa Temple (The Vulture Peak Assembly) (Treasure No. 1268), as well as the three-story stone pagoda of Naesosa Temple (Tangible Cultural Heritage of Jeollabuk-do No. 124), Seolseondang Hall and the Living quarters of monks of Naesosa Temple (Tangible Cultural Heritage of Jeollabuk-do No. 125) and the wooden seated Amitabha Buddha triad (Tangible Cultural Heritage of Jeollabuk-do No. 255).
Daeungbojeon Hall of Naesosa Temple, completed in 1623 (the 1st year of King Injo's reign), is an outstanding example of Joseon Buddhist architecture, featuring original visual details and crafted using equally original building techniques. It was constructed without a single nail, using only interlocking timber joints. The Avalokitesvara mural inside the worship hall is also of tremendous artistic value. Legend has it that this worship hall was built by Seon master Daeho, a tiger incarnated into a Buddhist monk, and the mural was painted by a bird with golden wings, which was the incarnation of Avalokitesvara.
The Bronze Bell of Naesosa Temple was cast in 1222 (the 9th year of the reign of King Gojong of Goryeo) in Cheongnimsa Temple in Byeonsan. The bell is reported to have been discovered buried underground in 1850 (the 1st year of King Cheoljong's reign) and was later brought to Naesosa Temple. Transcription of Saddharmapundarika Sutra (The Lotus Sutra) in Ink on White Paper is a hand copy attributed to a certain Lady Yi who lived in early Joseon. She is said to have hand-copied the sutra in prayer for the peace of her late husband's soul, pouring her heart and soul into the task, bowing to Buddha after each character. Seolseondang Hall is a gable roof building extending six kan on the front and one on the sides. It was constructed during the reign of King Injo as a study hall for the monks. Bongnaeru Pavilion is believed to have been moved here in 1414 (the 14th year of King Taejong's reign) from the former site of Silsangsa Temple Site.
Naesosa's surrounding area has been designated by Jeollabuk-do as Provincial Monument No. 78. The 600m-long shady path through a fir forest, stretching from Iljumun Gate, was selected among the '100 Most Beautiful Trails of Korea.' The Dangsanje Ritual, an important intangible folk heritage, is observed annually at the 15th day of the first lunar month in front of the village guardian tree near Iljumun Gate, in an event jointly organized by Naesosa Temple and local residents.