Namjijangsa Temple

SOUTH KOREA, Daegu

Namjijangsa means South Ksitigarbha Temple and it is not far away from Bukjijangsa (North Ksitigarbha Temple) on Palgongsan Mountain. It is a branch temple of Donghwasa Temple, which is the head temple for the 9th district of the Jogye order of Korean Seon Buddhism. Namjijangsa Temple was established by Master Yanggejosa in 684 during the Silla dynasty and was reconstructed in 1263. Since then the temple has undergone many reconstructions, including one in 1653 by Master Inhe and another in 1808. Although the temple was originally much larger and is said to have housed over 3,000 monks at its peak, it is now a small, quiet temple.
The buildings of the temple include the Great Hero Hall, Dharma Hall, Judgment Hall, a pavilion, and living quarters. The Great Hero Hall has an overhanging gable roof and stands three bays wide upon a high platform. The Dharma Hall is three bays wide and has a gable roof, with a pagoda in front of it. The pavilion contains records of temple restorations, as well as inscriptions of the List of Benefactors of Namjijangsa Temple and the Record of Repairs of Murals in the Halls. On the eastern side of the temple there are also a number of typical bell-shaped stone stupas made during the Joseon dynasty (1392–1910).