Donghaesa (Sangju)

About this place

Donghaesa was founded in 1398 (the 7th year of King Taejo) by the Great Monk Muhak; it was rebuilt in 1638 (the 16th year of King Injo) by Huiseon, founded for a third time in 1838 (the 4th year of King Hyeonjong) by the monk Yongdam, and in 1879 (the 16th year of King Gojong) it was relocated by the monk Hwayeong to its present location on the mid-slope of Mount Siksan, which connects to Mount Gapjangsan to the east of Sangju. Although this temple does not border the sea, it is named Donghaesa (East Sea Temple); it is said that Muhak, the royal preceptor of King Taejo, judged the terrain of Sangju to resemble a departing ship and built the temple to serve as its mast, wishing that it would sail far toward the East Sea and prosper, and so named it Donghaesa. On foggy days it truly looks like a ship afloat on the East Sea, laden with cargo, returning toward the harbor. Though it is not large in scale, holds no special cultural properties or historic remains, and was not the residence of any great monk, it flourished greatly under the protection of the royal court during the Goryeo period. In this region, alongside Donghaesa, the renowned monk Naong of that era built Gapjangsa on Mount Yeonaksan, carrying on the same dharma lineage as Donghaesa.