Surimsa Temple
34 Gasansanseong-gil, Dongmyeong-myeon, Chilgok-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do
Open in mapAbout this place
Chilgok Surimsa is a small temple at the foot of Palgongsan. It has an atmosphere unlike most temples, with most of its buildings in hanok style built during the 2010s and a green lawn spread across the precinct, giving the impression of a hanok village. Centered on the Geungnakjeon, the Jeokmukdang, Seolbeopjeon, Yukhwadang and Suseondang surround it; behind stand the Yeongsanjeon and Sansingak. Sansingak, a hall for the mountain spirit, is a space where indigenous beliefs and Buddhism harmonize. According to legend, when the temple was built, a sick tiger came down from the back mountain, entered the present Sansingak, recovered there, and returned healthy to the mountain — which is why the Bhaisajyaguru Buddha, said to relieve illness, is enshrined in the Sansingak.