Myogaksa (Yeongcheon)

About this place

Myogaksa is a temple belonging to Eunhaesa, the head temple of the 10th diocese of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism. It is said to have been founded by the Great Master Uisang during the reign of Queen Seondeok of Silla, but there are no records prior to the Imjin War. As a temple associated with the Dragon King, it is said that rites for the Dragon King (Yongwangje) and rain-prayer rituals (Giuje) were often held here. The area around the temple has long been widely known as a place of Buddhist faith: the mountain behind the temple is Bohyeonsan, said to be where the Bodhisattva Samantabhadra dwells, and below Giryongsan there are many village names expressing the Buddha's Pure Land, such as Yonghwa, Sammae, and Jeonggak. It is said that at the time of its founding, the Dragon King of the East Sea came galloping like a horse to hear the teachings of Uisang, and so the mountain on which the temple was built was named Giryongsan (Mountain of the Ridden Dragon). When Uisang preached the Beopseonggye (Ode to the Dharma Nature), the Dragon King suddenly attained enlightenment and ascended to heaven, at which time the Dragon King sprinkled sweet dew (甘露) from the sky, relieving the severe drought of the time and calming the people's hearts. Because Uisang thereby attained a subtle enlightenment, the temple was named Myogaksa. It burned down during the Imjin War in 1592 (the 25th year of King Seonjo), and in 1644 (the 22nd year of King Injo) the Seolseondang was built to rebuild it. In 1657 the yosa was rebuilt, which is now the Seolbeopjeon. In 1760 (the 36th year of King Yeongjo) Samseong rebuilt it, and in 1889 the main hall was repaired. In 1994 Jingwang built the Sansingak. In 1999 the Amitasamseongjeon was restored.