~*~ History of Unmunsa Temple ~*~
Unmunsa, which is located in the Mt. Hokeo in Shinweon-ri, Unmum-myeon, Cheongdo-kun at Kyeongbuk, is a terminal temple of Donghwasa, one of head temples belonging to the 9th District in the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism.
The temple was founded by a saint priest in 560. Then, Weonkwang Kuksa who lived the rest of his life in Kaseulkapsa and presented Kuisan and Chuhang with the five Buddhist commandments as their lifetime motto firstly renovated the temple in 608.
Ohkapsa was built by Boyang who helped Wanggeon unify the Late Three Kingdoms at his return from studying abroad in Dang, China. In 943, King Taejo Wanggeon of Koryo Dynasty christened the temple Unmunseonsa and bestowed 500 Kyeol of fields in recognition of Boyang’s service.
In 1105, Weoneung Kuksa thirdly renovated the temple as the second Zen temple around the country at his return from studying Cheontaekyokwan abroad in Song, China.
A part of temple buildings was destroyed during the Imjinwoiran [Japanese Invasion of Korea in 1592] in Joseon Dynasty.
The fourth renovation by Seolsong Daesa in 1690, the fifth by Unak Daesa in 1907, the sixth by Geungpa Daesa in 1912, the seventh by Kojeon Daesa in 1913, and the eighth by bhiksuni Keumkang Seonsa were followed.
Myeongseong sunim newly built and reconstructed the major buildings including Daewungbojeon and Beomjongru to drastically renovate the precinct of the temple from 1977 to 1998 while in his service as a chief priest. The temple is now run on very extensive scale with about 30 major buildings.
Since the Buddhist Purification Drive in 1958, an educational institute for bhiksunis was set up in the temple, which has undertaken the education of sunims and the research of the Sutras, turning out numerous sunims after renaming as a Samgha University in 1987
* Unmunsa at the end of Shilla and the start of Koryo
According to the [Unmunsa History], a saint priest built Kaseulkapsa to the east, Daebikapsa (currently Daebisa) to the west, Cheonmunkapsa (currently Unmunsa) to the south, Sobokapsa to the north, and Daejakkapsa in the center for seven years by the help of 10 other companions after attaining Nirvada from his spiritual discipline for three years in a small hermitage built in Keumsudong near Bukdaeam. There are only Unmunsa and Daebisa currently left.
The temple was renovated in 600 by Weonkwang Kuksa who held the penitential services in Daejakkapsa and Kaseulkapsa, and presented Kuisan and Chuhang with the five Buddhist commandments that would later become a principle of Hwarang.
Okapsa was built with the Hwarang training grounds all over Mt. Unmun when Shilla tried to reinforce its military preparation for the unification of Three Kingdoms, and rehabilitate the Buddhism. This area was a spot of strategic importance for Shilla to extend its national strength to southwest of the Nakdong River.
* Unmunsa in Koryo and Joseon Dynasty
According to the [Samkuk Yusa] Boyang Imokjo, King Taejo Wanggeon of Koryo Dynasty christened Daejakkapsa ‘Unmunseonsa’ and bestowed 500 Kyeol of fields in 937 in recognition of Boyang’s contribution to the unification of Late Three Kingdoms.
Daejakkapsa of which name was changed into Unmunsa since then became a great temple based on its strong economic background. The temple was its best in 1129 when Weoneung Kuksa Hakil who has been selected as a King’s teacher after the third renovation in 1105 stayed in the temple.
In 1277, Ilyeonseonsa started writing [Samkuk Yusa] while he was in the temple as a chief priest till 1281. It is said there was a monument to honor his achievement to the east of the temple, which is now disappeared.
The temple was considerably developed in the middle of 18th century when Seolsong Yeonchodaesa renovated the temple to the start of 19th century in Joseon Dynasty.
Unhak sunim, a prime mover of the 5th renovation, remodeled Ohbaekjeon in 1839, reconstructed Eungjinjeon, Myeongbujeon, Mitajeon, Naweonam and Bukdaeam in 1840, built Cheongshinam in 1841, and reconstructed Keumdang in 1842.
* Unmunsa Today
There were four married sumins from the first Kimsangmyeong sunim to the fifth Parksangwung sunim for a while after the independence in the temple. After the Buddhist Purification Drive in 1950s, bhiksuni Jeonkeumkwang sunim took office as the first chief priest in 1955 and led the eighth renovation. The 2nd/3rd Yusuin sunim, the 4th Baemyoin sunim, the 5th Yitaeku sunim, the 6th Anhyeun sunim and the 7th Uihyean sunim were followed by the 8th-12th Jeonmyeongseong sunim who achieved the ninth renovation by building 29 buildings including Daewungbojeon and a temple dormitory, and remodeling the other buildings including Manseru from 1977 to 1998. Songhyeun sunim, the 13th chief priest from 1998 to 2002, built a Zen center in which sunims can learn both religion and Zen. The Dharma instructor Koheungryun has been appointed as the 14th chief priest since 2002.
~*~ History of Unmunsa Temple ~*~
Unmunsa, which is located in the Mt. Hokeo in Shinweon-ri, Unmum-myeon, Cheongdo-kun at Kyeongbuk, is a terminal temple of Donghwasa, one of head temples belonging to the 9th District in the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism.The temple was founded by a saint priest in 560. Then, Weonkwang Kuksa who lived the rest of his life in Kaseulkapsa and presented Kuisan and Chuhang with the five Buddhist commandments as their lifetime motto firstly renovated the temple in 608.
Ohkapsa was built by Boyang who helped Wanggeon unify the Late Three Kingdoms at his return from studying abroad in Dang, China. In 943, King Taejo Wanggeon of Koryo Dynasty christened the temple Unmunseonsa and bestowed 500 Kyeol of fields in recognition of Boyang’s service.
In 1105, Weoneung Kuksa thirdly renovated the temple as the second Zen temple around the country at his return from studying Cheontaekyokwan abroad in Song, China.
A part of temple buildings was destroyed during the Imjinwoiran [Japanese Invasion of Korea in 1592] in Joseon Dynasty.
The fourth renovation by Seolsong Daesa in 1690, the fifth by Unak Daesa in 1907, the sixth by Geungpa Daesa in 1912, the seventh by Kojeon Daesa in 1913, and the eighth by bhiksuni Keumkang Seonsa were followed.
Myeongseong sunim newly built and reconstructed the major buildings including Daewungbojeon and Beomjongru to drastically renovate the precinct of the temple from 1977 to 1998 while in his service as a chief priest. The temple is now run on very extensive scale with about 30 major buildings.
Since the Buddhist Purification Drive in 1958, an educational institute for bhiksunis was set up in the temple, which has undertaken the education of sunims and the research of the Sutras, turning out numerous sunims after renaming as a Samgha University in 1987
* Unmunsa at the end of Shilla and the start of Koryo
According to the [Unmunsa History], a saint priest built Kaseulkapsa to the east, Daebikapsa (currently Daebisa) to the west, Cheonmunkapsa (currently Unmunsa) to the south, Sobokapsa to the north, and Daejakkapsa in the center for seven years by the help of 10 other companions after attaining Nirvada from his spiritual discipline for three years in a small hermitage built in Keumsudong near Bukdaeam. There are only Unmunsa and Daebisa currently left.
The temple was renovated in 600 by Weonkwang Kuksa who held the penitential services in Daejakkapsa and Kaseulkapsa, and presented Kuisan and Chuhang with the five Buddhist commandments that would later become a principle of Hwarang.
Okapsa was built with the Hwarang training grounds all over Mt. Unmun when Shilla tried to reinforce its military preparation for the unification of Three Kingdoms, and rehabilitate the Buddhism. This area was a spot of strategic importance for Shilla to extend its national strength to southwest of the Nakdong River.
* Unmunsa in Koryo and Joseon Dynasty
According to the [Samkuk Yusa] Boyang Imokjo, King Taejo Wanggeon of Koryo Dynasty christened Daejakkapsa ‘Unmunseonsa’ and bestowed 500 Kyeol of fields in 937 in recognition of Boyang’s contribution to the unification of Late Three Kingdoms.
Daejakkapsa of which name was changed into Unmunsa since then became a great temple based on its strong economic background. The temple was its best in 1129 when Weoneung Kuksa Hakil who has been selected as a King’s teacher after the third renovation in 1105 stayed in the temple.
In 1277, Ilyeonseonsa started writing [Samkuk Yusa] while he was in the temple as a chief priest till 1281. It is said there was a monument to honor his achievement to the east of the temple, which is now disappeared.
The temple was considerably developed in the middle of 18th century when Seolsong Yeonchodaesa renovated the temple to the start of 19th century in Joseon Dynasty.
Unhak sunim, a prime mover of the 5th renovation, remodeled Ohbaekjeon in 1839, reconstructed Eungjinjeon, Myeongbujeon, Mitajeon, Naweonam and Bukdaeam in 1840, built Cheongshinam in 1841, and reconstructed Keumdang in 1842.
* Unmunsa Today
There were four married sumins from the first Kimsangmyeong sunim to the fifth Parksangwung sunim for a while after the independence in the temple. After the Buddhist Purification Drive in 1950s, bhiksuni Jeonkeumkwang sunim took office as the first chief priest in 1955 and led the eighth renovation. The 2nd/3rd Yusuin sunim, the 4th Baemyoin sunim, the 5th Yitaeku sunim, the 6th Anhyeun sunim and the 7th Uihyean sunim were followed by the 8th-12th Jeonmyeongseong sunim who achieved the ninth renovation by building 29 buildings including Daewungbojeon and a temple dormitory, and remodeling the other buildings including Manseru from 1977 to 1998. Songhyeun sunim, the 13th chief priest from 1998 to 2002, built a Zen center in which sunims can learn both religion and Zen. The Dharma instructor Koheungryun has been appointed as the 14th chief priest since 2002.