Cheongamsa

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It is believed that Cheongamsa, a Korean Buddhist temple, was founded by Monk Doseon during the Silla era in C.E. 859. Born in Yeongam, Jeollanam-do Province, Doseon became a monk at the age of 15. He was well versed in the art of geomancy (feng shui) and seems to have indeed roamed freely all over the countryside.

Burned down in C.E. 1647, Cheongamsa was rebuilt by Buddhist Monks Huh-Jung and Hwan-Wu. Was again restored by Monk Dae-wun in 1904. Cheongamsa was established as Sung Gah College (Buddhist Women's College for the training of female monks) in 1987 as a four-year institute.

Cheongamsa means “temple of blue-green rocks,” which comes from the moss-covered rocks in the adjacent valley. Along the path leading to the temple there is a rocky wall that is indeed covered with moss. A small spring across the way is Ubicheon. From a geomantic perspective, the site of Cheongamsa is said to be configured like a “cow lying down,” with the spring representing the cow’s nose. The nose of a healthy cow is constantly wet; likewise, it was believed that the nation and the temple would prosper so long as the spring waters flowed steadily. In times of a national crisis, the spring is said to dry up.

The temple’s two main halls, Geungnakjeon and Nambyeoldang, can be seen across a stream. Nambyeoldang is where Queen Inhyeon, the second wife of King Sukjong of Joseon, lived deep in the mountains after being stripped of her royal title in 1689. This building, which features a traditional style of palace architecture in deference to the queen’s tragic fate, now houses the temple university.


Multl-storied Stone Pagoda of Cheongamsa is a 14 foot high stone pagoda standing in front of the main hall of Chungamsa, moved from Seongju in 1917, belongs to the architectural style of the late Joseon Dynasty. This pagoda is generally believed to have had five stories, but only four stories now remain.

The foundation and the first body stone is made of single piece of granite. But the four roof stones and the other three body stones are individual pieces.

On each side of the first body are carved lotus blossoms. And the first body stone is prominently decorated with a sitting Buddha. It looks unbalanced because the lower foundation is comparatively
high.

Multl-storied Stone Pagoda of Cheongamsa is Gyeongsangbuk-do Cultural Property Material #121.


The main hall of Cheongamsa, Daeungjeon, was built by Priest Doseon in 858 but burned down in a big fire in 1647. Later, Priest Byeogam and Hujeong rebuilt Daeungjeon.

In 1782 the rebuilt main hall was burned down again in a big fire. Twenty years after the fire, Priest Hwanu rebuilt the main hall yet again. The temple was closed in 1897, but was rebuilt by Priest Daeun in the early 1900s.

The foundation of the main hall is made up of two-levels of stones. This hall is composed of 3 kan (space between pillars, about 108 square feet) in the front and also 8 kan on the sides. The roof of the hall is composed of single eave, and it is half-hipped with two long and wide slopes and two small and short slopes. Blue roof tiles are used on the roof with both ends of the ridges decorated with ornamental ridge end tiles.

All the timbers inside the hall are painted with bright colors. On the outside of the hall only the end of each timber is painted. At the center of the hall is the Buddhist altar. Two wooden pillars are erected behind the altar. Between the 2 pillars is a back wall where a Buddhist painting on a silk canvas hangs.

Daeungjeon of Cheongamsa is Gyeongsangbuk-do Cultural Property Material #120.