Yongdamsa (Andong)

About this place

※ Please note before visiting: due to a wildfire in March 2025, Muryangjeon Hall and the Hwaeom Lecture Hall of Geumjeongam were completely destroyed. Yongdamsa is a temple in Geumgok-ri, Gir-an-myeon, Andong, affiliated with Gounsa, the head temple of the 16th diocese of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism. It was founded by the monk Hwaeom during the reign of King Munmu of Silla and flourished greatly in ancient and medieval times, reportedly having as many as three subordinate hermitages. However, it burned down during the Japanese invasions of 1592 and was rebuilt in 1574 (7th year of King Seonjo) by the monk Song Hye-jeung. Thereafter it declined considerably due to two fires. The temple has four buildings in all: Muryangjeon Hall, Daeungjeon Hall, the monks' quarters, and the meditation hall. Of these, the Muryangjeon Hall of Yongdamsa is designated as Gyeongsangbuk-do Cultural Heritage Material. Inside the main hall is a seated Amitabha Buddha, around which are enshrined a rear-altar taenghwa, a Mountain Spirit taenghwa, and a Ksitigarbha taenghwa. The Muryangjeon Hall of Yongdamsa has two subordinate hermitages, Geumjeongam and Ragam. On the mountainside to the right of the entrance of Geumjeongam stand a stupa and a stele, and a little higher up sits the Hwaeom Lecture Hall. The Hwaeom Lecture Hall of Geumjeongam at Yongdamsa is designated as Gyeongsangbuk-do Cultural Heritage Material; this site is known as an auspicious location shaped like a crane brooding over its eggs, or like a beautiful woman weaving silk (the 'jade maiden weaving brocade' form). To the left of Geumjeongam is Uisang Rock, where the Great Master Uisang is said to have cultivated the Way. The stone lanterns of Muryangjeon Hall at Yongdamsa are two lanterns, the right one bearing traces of a cracked pillar. They are octagonal pillars about 164 m in total height, and the lantern bases both appear to be natural stone in the shape of a turtle. The part where the light is placed is carved with a pattern presumed to be a lotus flower.