Haewolam Hermitage (Imsil)

About this place

Haewolam Hermitage was founded in the late Goryeo period by monks Haekyeong and Wolsan, and named Haewolam by combining one character from each of their names. The hermitage was subsequently renovated several times, and around 1993, the head priest Jeonghyeon rebuilt the Daeungjeon (main hall) to give the site its current appearance. Within the compound there is the main hall (bonjeon), a Sanshin-gak (mountain spirit shrine), a bell tower (jonggak), and the yosachae (monks' residential quarters). The main hall is L-shaped: one side of the roof is a hip-and-gable roof (paljakjibung) when viewed from the side, and the other side is a hip roof (ujingak jibung) trapezoidal at the front. The Sanshin-gak has one bay on each of the front and side faces and is topped with a gabled roof (maengbaejibung). The entire hermitage precinct is currently designated as Jeollabuk-do Cultural Heritage Material No. 24. Haewolam Hermitage is connected by dense trees to Sinpojeong, making it a destination that attracts spring sightseers and summer vacationers.