Yangyang Jinjeonsa Temple Site

Jinjeonsa is known as the temple founded by Seon Master Doui, who introduced Seon Buddhism into Korea, and as the temple where the monk Iryeon, author of the Samguk yusa, became a monk at the age of fourteen. Doui studied under Seodang Jijang (709–788) in Tang China and, on returning home, introduced Seon Buddhism into Silla, where doctrinal (Gyo) Buddhism had until then held absolute sway. He is remembered with the saying, 'If China had Bodhidharma, Silla had Doui,' and his dharma lineage passed through Buddhist Monk Yeomgeo and Seon Master Bojo to form the mainstream of Korean Buddhism. It is not known exactly when the temple was destroyed, but it is presumed to have been during the anti-Buddhist policies of the Joseon Dynasty. A sorrowful legend survives in the village that, when the temple was being destroyed, the monks threw the bronze bell and Buddha image into a pond above the temple site and left. Excavations have recovered roof-tile fragments inscribed with the characters 'Jinjeon' (陳田), which reveal the temple's name, along with lotus-patterned round eave-end tiles, arabesque-patterned flat eave-end tiles, and fish-patterned tile fragments. The three-storey stone pagoda (National Treasure) and a stone stupa (Treasure) still stand on the site today. The Jinjeonsa temple site holds an important place in the history of Korean Buddhism, marking, with great significance, the place where the seed was sown for Silla Buddhism's shift from the doctrinal to the Seon school.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Yangyang, Gangwon

Designation

Provincial Monument · 시도기념물