Bullyeongsa Temple (Cheongdo)

About this place

Bullyeongsa Temple, a branch temple of Donghwasa of the 9th District of the Jogye Order, is set on a mountain slope beside a ravine of Hyoyang-san (also called Horang-san), where Buddhist spirit is said to fill the valley. The temple's detailed founding history is not recorded, but tradition holds that it was established by the Silla monk Wonhyo in 645 (the 14th year of Queen Seondeok). After being abandoned, the temple was rebuilt in 1912 by the monk Bongju, further restored by the head monk Jongtae in 1930, and rebuilt again in 1985 when the monk Jiseon constructed a living hall and mountain deity shrine. In 2000 the main hall was rebuilt above the original structure. Bullyeongsa preserves a brick pagoda, a Cultural Property of North Gyeongsang Province, displaying the Unified Silla sculptural style with lotus-supported buddhas and pagodas in relief on its bricks.