Yongmyongsa
Encyclopedia
Yŏngmyŏng Temple was a Korean Buddhist temple located at the foot of Moranbong hill in Pyongyang
, North Korea
. Prior to its destruction in the Korean War
, it was the largest and most important center of Buddhist worship in that city. Though it is unknown when the temple was founded, popular tales date it to the end of the Goguryeo
kingdom. The temple was completely rebuilt under the Joseon dynasty
. Under the Japanese occupation of Korea, the temple became a major tourist site in Pyongyang it was renowned for its beautiful riverside location and many cherry trees. In the 1920s it again underwent an extensive restoration funded by the Japanese government, who also officially changed its name to its Japanese pronunciation, "Eimei-ji". During that time, the temple was also confiscated from by the government, and given for use as a headquarters for the Rinzai sect of Japanese Zen
buddhism. The Rinzai monks were tasked with converting the citizens away from traditional Korean buddhism
as part of a government program to replace the old Korean culture with that of modern Japan
Unfortunately, the historic temple was destroyed during the U.S. carpet bombing
s of Pyongyang during the Korean War. The only building of the temple now standing is Pubyŏk Pavilion, a scenic lookout which was reconstructed after the war and was known for its beautiful views of the Taedong River
; its stone pagoda and octagonal shrine also survived the bombings, and all three are registered as National Treasures of North Korea
.
The temple ran the Pobun Hermitage, located on Mt. Ryongak in Mangyŏngdae-guyŏk
.
Pyongyang
Pyongyang is the capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, commonly known as North Korea, and the largest city in the country. Pyongyang is located on the Taedong River and, according to preliminary results from the 2008 population census, has a population of 3,255,388. The city was...
, North Korea
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
. Prior to its destruction in the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
, it was the largest and most important center of Buddhist worship in that city. Though it is unknown when the temple was founded, popular tales date it to the end of the Goguryeo
Goguryeo
Goguryeo or Koguryŏ was an ancient Korean kingdom located in present day northern and central parts of the Korean Peninsula, southern Manchuria, and southern Russian Maritime province....
kingdom. The temple was completely rebuilt under the Joseon dynasty
Joseon Dynasty
Joseon , was a Korean state founded by Taejo Yi Seong-gye that lasted for approximately five centuries. It was founded in the aftermath of the overthrow of the Goryeo at what is today the city of Kaesong. Early on, Korea was retitled and the capital was relocated to modern-day Seoul...
. Under the Japanese occupation of Korea, the temple became a major tourist site in Pyongyang it was renowned for its beautiful riverside location and many cherry trees. In the 1920s it again underwent an extensive restoration funded by the Japanese government, who also officially changed its name to its Japanese pronunciation, "Eimei-ji". During that time, the temple was also confiscated from by the government, and given for use as a headquarters for the Rinzai sect of Japanese Zen
Zen
Zen is a school of Mahāyāna Buddhism founded by the Buddhist monk Bodhidharma. The word Zen is from the Japanese pronunciation of the Chinese word Chán , which in turn is derived from the Sanskrit word dhyāna, which can be approximately translated as "meditation" or "meditative state."Zen...
buddhism. The Rinzai monks were tasked with converting the citizens away from traditional Korean buddhism
Korean Buddhism
Korean Buddhism is distinguished from other forms of Buddhism by its attempt to resolve what it sees as inconsistencies in Mahayana Buddhism. Early Korean monks believed that the traditions they received from foreign countries were internally inconsistent. To address this, they developed a new...
as part of a government program to replace the old Korean culture with that of modern Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
Unfortunately, the historic temple was destroyed during the U.S. carpet bombing
Carpet bombing
Carpet bombing is a large aerial bombing done in a progressive manner to inflict damage in every part of a selected area of land. The phrase invokes the image of explosions completely covering an area, in the same way that a carpet covers a floor. Carpet bombing is usually achieved by dropping many...
s of Pyongyang during the Korean War. The only building of the temple now standing is Pubyŏk Pavilion, a scenic lookout which was reconstructed after the war and was known for its beautiful views of the Taedong River
Taedong River
The Taedong River is a large river in North Korea. It rises in the Rangrim Mountains of the country's north. It then flows southwest into Korea Bay at Namp'o. In between, it runs through the country's capital, Pyongyang. Along the river are landmarks such as the Juche Tower and Kim Il-sung...
; its stone pagoda and octagonal shrine also survived the bombings, and all three are registered as National Treasures of North Korea
National treasures of North Korea
Designated national treasures of North Korea are tangible artifacts, sites, and buildings deemed to have significant historical or artistic value.-No. 1-50:-No. 51-100:-No. 101-150:-No...
.
The temple ran the Pobun Hermitage, located on Mt. Ryongak in Mangyŏngdae-guyŏk
Mangyongdae-guyok
Man'gyŏngdae-guyŏk, or Man'gyŏngdae District is one of the 19 guyŏk that constitute Pyongyang, North Korea....
.