Ever wondered how a dream could lead to the creation of a temple?
Let’s explore Yonghwasa Temple in Cheongju. This temple’s story is quite unique. Yonghwasa Temple has a fascinating past linked to royal dreams and ancient artifacts.
Yonghwasa Temple wasn’t always here. The current temple was built in 1902. But history goes back much further. Archaeological digs showed a larger temple existed here during the Goryeo Dynasty. That’s almost a thousand years ago.
The name Yonghwasa relates to the Future Buddha. It is believed that Mireuk-bul will return under a dragon flower tree. Yonghwasa Temple is known for its Stone Buddhas. These seven statues are Korean Treasure number 985. They date back to the Goryeo Dynasty.
These statues were originally found near the Musimcheon Stream. They were moved to Yonghwasa Temple when it was founded. Legend says that Eom Seon-yeong saw the statues in a dream. She was King Gojong’s consort. In her dream the statues asked for a house. Eom Seon-yeong sent people to find them. After they were discovered Yonghwasa Temple was built to house them.
The temple faced hard times. In 1935 a fire destroyed Yonghwasa Temple. Kim Won-geun bought a government office and moved the temple. He brought the Stone Buddhas too. The Korean War brought more destruction. Yonghwasa Temple was completely destroyed again.
But Yonghwasa Temple was rebuilt. In 1972 a new hall was constructed. This was the Mireukbo-jeon Hall. It housed the seven statues. Later in 1995 the Yonghwabo-jeon Hall was built. This hall housed all seven statues together. The Geukrak-jeon Hall was built in 2008. It houses four of the seven statues.
As you approach Yonghwasa Temple you will see a fortress-like gate. The second story is a bell pavilion. Inside are traditional Buddhist instruments. The first floor is an entry gate. Murals of fierce guardians decorate the doors.
Inside the courtyard you will see dorms, a visitor center and a meditation center. To the right are temple shrine halls. Look for the five-story stone pagoda. It stands in front of the Yonghwabo-jeon Hall. The pagoda is adorned with Buddha reliefs.
Behind the pagoda is the Yonghwabo-jeon Hall. The exterior has Buddhist murals. Inside you will find three large Stone Buddhas. The central statue is Mireuk-bul. To the left is Yaksayeorae-bul. To the right is Seokgamoni-bul. There are also modern statues of other Bodhisattvas.
To the right of the Yonghwabo-jeon Hall is the Geukrak-jeon Hall. It features redemptive Buddhist murals. Inside is Amita-bul. Statues of Jijang-bosal and Gwanseeum-bosal join it. The hall also houses four historic Stone Buddhas.
Behind the Geukrak-jeon Hall is the Samseong-gak Hall. It contains shaman deities. There are statues and paintings of Chilseong, Jeseok-bul, Sanshin and Dokseong.
Yonghwasa Temple stands as a testament to resilience. It showcases Korean Buddhist art. The Stone Buddhas are impressive in their size and artistry. The five-story pagoda and the entry gate are also beautiful. Yonghwasa Temple offers a peaceful escape. It is a place to reflect on history and art.