Donghwasa-temple

• By the time when the straight access road to Palgongsan Mountain is making upward curve, Pagun-jae is not far away. Pagun-jae is a place where the roads to Pagyesa-temple and Donghwasa Temple are separated and from here the height is getting higher gradually and Palgongsan Mountain is spreading in earnest. Drive this road by car for some 30 minutes to reach Donghwasa Temple.
  
  Donghwasa Temple is a Silla Kingdom temple with a long history, located at the Dohak-dong valley with Pokpo-gol(Faterfall), Bindae-gol and Soosut-gol gathered to both left and right side. Established in 493 AD by Geukdal-hwasang(means Buddhist priest), the name was Yougasa Temple at that time. Later, when Simji-daesa(great priest) rebuild the temple, there were flowers of Korean paulownia bloomed auspiciously, thus renamed to Donghwasa Temple.
  
  The first building to meet at Donghwasa Temple is the Bongseo-ru tower. Bongseo-ru is a tower symbolizing a Phoenix that is believed to nest in Korean paulownia forest, matching nicely with Donhwasa-temple that has the meaning of Korean paulownia.
  Daewoongjeon, which is a central building of Donghwasa Temple, is standing at the center when you enter into the precinct after passing the Bongseo-ru.
  
  Daewoongjeon is a large building comprising 3 rooms at the front and another 3 rooms at the side, which was built at the time of King Youngjo of Joseon Dynasty. Twisted wood was used for pillars as they are in order to make the best use of their natural beauty. Status of Amitabha, Sakyamuni and Bhaisajyaguru are enshrined inside. These Buddhist statues look like they are engaged in reading with their heads drooping, reminding us of the scholars during Joseon Dynasty, and realistic landscape pictures of Buddha on the walls and pictures of a bird of paradise on the ceiling infuse life into the surroundings.
• Donghwasa Temple ☎ 82-53-982-0130

Donghwasa- Small Temples

• Geumdangam
  • Geumdangam, an annex of Donghwasa Temple is detached from the main building at the right side. Geumdangam is a quiet and small temple rarely visited by the people, having two well-balanced 3 story stone pagodas standing face to face. These pagodas were made during the Unified Silla Kingdom, and are now designated as National Treasure No. 248. The road spreading in front of Geumdangam is originally the entrance of Donghwasa Temple, which has a Dangganjiju(pillars supporting the structure)(National Treasure No. 254) and a stone Buddha(National Treasure No. 601) standing there. Stepping a little down from here, a large sized ‘Great Stone Statue of Bhaisajyaguru praying for South and North Unification’ is protruding among the forest, and Maaebuljwasang (a seated smiling Buddha image) (National Treasure No. 243) is carved on the rock cliff stone at the end of this road.
• Biroam
  • Biroam is a small temple you can see directly from the pond at the entrance of the ticketing office.
    Seokjobirojanabul(stone statue of Vairocana), which is the National Treasure No. 244, built by Simjidaesa during the King Heungdeok of Silla Dynastya, is enshrined at Daejeokgwangjeon of Biroam. In front of this Daejeokgwangjeon stands the National Treasure No. 247, three story stone pagoda which was created during the King Heungdeok of Silla Dynasty as well. There are restaurants at the entrance and busy all the time.
• Yeombulam (meaning praying temple)
  • Yeombulam will show up when following the uphill mountain road for some one and half hours from Biroam. The legend is that there was sound of prayer heard from the large rock behind the present sermon hall thus built a small temple there and called by the name of Yeombulam. This temple was originally built by Youngjo-seonsa(means Zen master) in the 2nd year of the King Kyeongsoon of Silla Kingdom and was rebuilt in 1962. There is a prayer rock at the right-rear side of the hall of Paradise. Moonsubosal (Bodhisattva of wisdom) is carved at the southern face of the prayer rock while Amitabul (Amitayus Buddha) at the west. Legend says that these Buddhist statues were carved by Munsubosal. Cheongseoktab (blue colored tuff Pagoda) in front of the sermon hall is designated as a Tangible Cultural Property No. 19 by Daegu Municipality.
• Budoam
  • The name of Budoam is originated from the history that the temple was built at the place where there were Buddhas. This temple was built by Do o snim (Buddhist priest) in the 9th year (1658) of the King Hyojong of Joseon Dynasty. Later rebuilt in the 14th year of King Jeongjo(1790) and completely renovated in 1960. Budoam was originally built at the foot of the mountain across the stream where 12 Buddhas were placed but moved to present location later. This temple is reserved for Buddhist nuns only for their ascetic exercises.
• Naewonam
  • Naewonam is located at the so called ideal spot of ‘a blue dragon to the left and a white tiger to the right’ about 800m north of Donghwasa Temple. This temple was built by the priest Youchan in the 4th year of the King Youngjo of Joseon Dynasty (1626), which was rebuilt in the 27th year of the King Soonjo (1827) and renovated in 1966. This temple is for Buddhist nuns for their ascetic exercises.
• Yangjinam
  • Yanjinam was built by Mooju-guksa in the 19th year of the King Youngjo of Joseon Dynasty. It was later rebuilt by Chunpahwasang in the 2nd year of Gwangmu (1898) but eas entirely renovated due to its deterioration in 1980. It is written in the merit record of renovation work that “where is Yanjinam after completing studies for both administration and war. Since you and I are not two, that is Yangjin merit of Buddha it is”, that implies the hidden mission of this temple. This temple is for Buddhist nuns for their ascetic exercises.
• Yaksooam
  • In 1970, a new temple was built at the place where Yaksaam was and called by the name of Yaksooam. The name is originated from the Guse-yaksu (medicinal water) nearby. There is a tablet with the name of Yaksajeon, the previous name, in the praying hall at present. Guse-yaksu will show up following some 700m toward right side from the Haetal-gyo bridge at the entrance of Donghwasa Temple, and Yaksuam is located at the left side of the mountain waist some 700m away again from here.

Donghwasa Composite Facility Zone

• Facilities like restaurants, filling stations, craftwork shops, camping grounds, parking lots. hotels and inns, etc. are linked with Donghwasa Temple, mountain trails and Palgong skyline so that a great number of tourists visit year-round. Mountain climbing trail to Dong-bong of Palgongsan Mountain is open and able to look around Cultural Properties such as; small temples, Buddhas, Pagodas, etc. in the precinct of Donghwasa Temple and Tongilyaksayeoraedaebul (Great Stone Statue of Bhaisajyaguru praying for South and North Unification).

Palgong skyline

• Able to reach the top of the mountain in short time and fresh air and the stirring physical features of the mountain will refresh your heart in a few seconds. Palgong Skyline operates the distance of 1,2 km from Donghwasa Composite Facility Zone to the top of the mountain at the height of 820m. There is a resting place at the top where they sell foods and beverages. In addition, trails are also open to Donghwasa Temple and Sootae-gol.
• Management Office : ☎ 82-53-982-8801
• Opening Hour : From 10:00 AM till sunset