A Journey to Haeinsa Temple and the Tripitaka Koreana

Hapcheon is home to Haeinsa Temple, nestled in the foothills of Gayasan National Park, and to the Tripitaka Koreana, inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage. On the way to Haeinsa, the Haeinsa Sori-gil trail follows Hongnyudong Valley, offering a pleasant walk through valley scenery all the way to the temple. It's an intimate encounter with the stunning scenery of Gayasan, the thousand-year-old Haeinsa Temple, and the Tripitaka Koreana.

Along the way

1. 1

   Haeinsa Temple

   해인사

   One of Korea's three great temples, Haeinsa was founded in 802 (the 3rd year of Silla King Aejang) by the monks Suneung and Ijeong. Its name, drawn from the 'Ocean Seal Samadhi' (Haein Sammae) of the Avatamsaka Sutra, has also made it famous as the 'Dharma Treasure Temple.' In gratitude to the monk Huirang, who had lived at this temple and helped Goryeo's founder Taejo turn back Gyeon Hwon of Later Baekje, Taejo made the temple a national temple of Goryeo and granted it 500 gyeol of land. Haeinsa has many halls and buildings, including the Janggyeong Panjeon (Tripitaka Koreana Depositories), Daejeokgwangjeon Hall, Myeongbujeon Hall, Dokseonggak Shrine, Eungjinjeon Hall, Eunghyanggak Hall, Toeseoldang Hall, Haehaengdang Hall, Simgeomdang Hall, Gunghyeondang Hall, Gyeonghagwon Hall, Jeongmukdang Hall, Gwaneumjeon Hall, Guguangnu Pavilion, Bogyeongdang Hall, the Tripitaka Koreana Preservation Research Institute, Myeongwoldang Hall, Saundang Hall, Cheonghwadang Hall, the bell pavilion, Uhwadang Hall, Haetalmun Gate, Cheonwangmun Gate, and Iljumun Gate. Its affiliated hermitages include Wondangam, Hongjeam, Yongtapseonwon, Baengnyeonam, Jijogam, Huirangdae, Samseonam, Geumseonam, Yaksuam, Gugilam, Bohyeonam, Geumganggul, Gilsangam, Goun-am, Ganwolam, and Cheongnyangsa. MoreLess

   

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2. 2

   Lunch (Busan Restaurant)

   점심식사(부산식당)

   On the way to Haeinsa Temple in Hapcheon, Gyeongsangnam-do, famous for the Goryeo Tripitaka Koreana, there are many restaurants featuring wild mountain greens, perhaps to give visitors a taste of temple food. Among them, Busan Restaurant specializes in a mountain-greens set meal, bibimbap, and deodeok (bellflower root) dishes. MoreLess

   

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3. 3

   Yeongamsa Temple Site

   영암사지

   This temple site sits on the southern slope of Mt. Hwangmaesan. It lies on the southern slope of Hwangmaesan (黃梅山), midway between Gayasan and Jirisan in western Gyeongsangnam-do; the name 'Yeongamsa' has been passed down orally among local residents, but no detailed history survives. However, a rubbing preserved in the Seoul National University Library of a stele inscription (erected in 1023) shows that a temple called Yeongamsa stood here during the Goryeo dynasty. MoreLess

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