Gyerimsa Temple (Gimcheon)

Gyerimsa Temple is a branch temple of Jikjisa Temple and is said to have been founded by Hwasang Ado in the 3rd year of King Nulji of Silla. However, the history from its founding to the late Joseon Dynasty is not known. It was rebuilt by Seongil in 1832 and Chundam in 1922, and is still there today. The buildings include Daeungjeon, Eunghyangak, Chilseonggak, and Yosa. The relics include a rock-carved seated Vairocana Buddha and a large hanging Buddhist painting. It is unknown when and by whom this painting was created, but it is said that when the drought was severe, it was placed at Ssangsaemga at the entrance of the village and offered as a prayer for rain. The origin of the name of Gyerimsa Temple is that according to feng shui, there are many bad incidents due to the mountainous terrain. When Ado knew about this in advance, he told the villagers that if they built a temple and raised a thousand chickens, murder would not occur. Accordingly, the villagers built a temple in the place Ado told them to and raised chickens. However, the chickens they were raising kept dying, so they changed the name of the temple to Gyerimsa Temple (鷄林寺) and started raising chickens instead. Also, the word Gyerim means a mysterious forest, and it is said that the name was given because it is a mysterious forest like Gyerim in Gyeongju, where all bad things disappear after building a temple.

Details

Admission fee

Free

Korean-language guide service

Available