Girimsa
Encyclopedia
Girimsa is a Buddhist
temple located on the slopes of Mount Hamwolsan in Gyeongju
city, the North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea
. It is a subsidiary temple of Bulguksa
, the head temple of the 11th branch of Jogye Order
. The temple was first established by Monk Gwangyu from India
as Imjeongsa (林井寺) in 643, the period of Queen Seondeok
's reign (r. 632-647 AD) during the Silla kingdom period (57 BC–935 AD).
After monk Wonhyo
rebuilt the temple, the temple's name was changed to Girimsa which name derives from "Girim jeongsa" (祈園精舍), meaning the forest where Buddha
resided. Once it was the biggest temple in the Gyeongju area until the mid 1940s, even having Bulguksa
as its branch temple. However, the situation has been changed - while Bulguksa has thrived onwards, Girimsa has not due to the accessibility. Yet, the temple consists of 16 buildings containing Daejeokgwangjeon hall (大寂光殿), Yaksajeon hall and Eungjinjeon hall and others. In addition to the buildings, Girimasa has relic
s such as Moktap Site, Three-Story Stone Pagoda and the lacquered Seated Mercy Bodhisattva of Girimsa Temple (Treasure No. 415).
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
temple located on the slopes of Mount Hamwolsan in Gyeongju
Gyeongju
Gyeongju is a coastal city in the far southeastern corner of North Gyeongsang province in South Korea. It is the second largest city by area in the province after Andong, covering with a population of 269,343 people according to the 2008 census. Gyeongju is southeast of Seoul, and east of the...
city, the North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
. It is a subsidiary temple of Bulguksa
Bulguksa
Bulguksa is a head temple of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism in the North Gyeongsang province in South Korea. It is home to seven National treasures of South Korea, including Dabotap and Seokgatap stone pagodas, Cheongun-gyo , and two gilt-bronze statues of Buddha. The temple is classified as...
, the head temple of the 11th branch of Jogye Order
Jogye Order
The Jogye Order, officially the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism is the representative order of traditional Korean Buddhism with roots that date back 1,200 years to Unified Silla National Master Doui, who brought Seon and the practice taught by the Sixth Patriarch, Huineng, from China about 820...
. The temple was first established by Monk Gwangyu from India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
as Imjeongsa (林井寺) in 643, the period of Queen Seondeok
Queen Seondeok of Silla
Queen Seondeok of Silla reigned as Queen of Silla, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, from 632 to 647. She was Silla's twenty-seventh ruler, and its first reigning queen...
's reign (r. 632-647 AD) during the Silla kingdom period (57 BC–935 AD).
After monk Wonhyo
Wonhyo
Wonhyo was one of the leading thinkers, writers and commentators of the Korean Buddhist tradition. Essence-Function , a key concept in East Asian Buddhism and particularly that of Korean Buddhism, was refined in the syncretic philosophy and worldview of Wonhyo.As one of the most eminent...
rebuilt the temple, the temple's name was changed to Girimsa which name derives from "Girim jeongsa" (祈園精舍), meaning the forest where Buddha
Buddha
In Buddhism, buddhahood is the state of perfect enlightenment attained by a buddha .In Buddhism, the term buddha usually refers to one who has become enlightened...
resided. Once it was the biggest temple in the Gyeongju area until the mid 1940s, even having Bulguksa
Bulguksa
Bulguksa is a head temple of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism in the North Gyeongsang province in South Korea. It is home to seven National treasures of South Korea, including Dabotap and Seokgatap stone pagodas, Cheongun-gyo , and two gilt-bronze statues of Buddha. The temple is classified as...
as its branch temple. However, the situation has been changed - while Bulguksa has thrived onwards, Girimsa has not due to the accessibility. Yet, the temple consists of 16 buildings containing Daejeokgwangjeon hall (大寂光殿), Yaksajeon hall and Eungjinjeon hall and others. In addition to the buildings, Girimasa has relic
Relic
In religion, a relic is a part of the body of a saint or a venerated person, or else another type of ancient religious object, carefully preserved for purposes of veneration or as a tangible memorial...
s such as Moktap Site, Three-Story Stone Pagoda and the lacquered Seated Mercy Bodhisattva of Girimsa Temple (Treasure No. 415).