Yongdeoksa Temple

Whispers of a dragon’s lament echo through the valley. They swirl around the slopes of Mt. Gulamsan, drawing us closer to Yongdeoksa Temple. Yongdeoksa Temple. A place where ancient myths intertwine with the whispers of history. Founded 1,300 years ago by Yeomgeo-seonsa during the Silla Dynasty, Yongdeoksa Temple has witnessed centuries of devotion and transformation. The temple’s very foundation rests on a poignant tale. A tale of a filial daughter, a benevolent dragon, and a tragic twist of fate. Legend has it that a dragon, guarding a wish-fulfilling jewel called a cintamani, resided in a cave where the upper courtyard of Yongdeoksa Temple now stands. A devoted daughter, desperate to cure her ailing father, pleaded with the dragon for the cintamani. Moved by her filial piety, the dragon agreed to part with its precious jewel. But just as the transfer was about to take place, a hunter’s arrow pierced the dragon’s eye, causing its death and the cintamani to melt away. The daughter’s prayers for the dragon’s rebirth and her father’s recovery eventually reached the Buddha. Her father was miraculously healed. Later, an old monk, intending to rebuild a temple elsewhere, brought wood to the dragon’s cave. The locals, recognizing the sacredness of the site, decided to build Yongdeoksa Temple there instead. Today, Yongdeoksa Temple stands as a testament to this enduring legend. The upper courtyard houses a shrine hall facing the very cave where the dragon once dwelled. Inside, a statue of Gwanseeum-bosal, bathed in natural light, offers solace and hope. Down in the lower courtyard, the Daeungbo-jeon Hall, adorned with vibrant murals depicting the Ox-Herding Murals and scenes from the Buddha’s life, houses a triad of statues. Seokgamoni-bul, Munsu-bosal, and Bohyeon-bosal, preside over the main altar. Nearby, the Mireuk-jeon Hall protects a remarkable stone statue known as the “Stone Standing Buddha of Yongdeoksa Temple.” This statue, believed to date back to the early Goryeo Dynasty, holds a lotus bud-shaped jewel and makes a mudra, symbolizing the promise to fulfill human desires. Yongdeoksa Temple. A spiritual sanctuary where history, myth, and devotion converge. A place where the whispers of the past continue to resonate.