One of oldest temples in Korea, Chikchisa was built in the foothills
of Mt. Hwang-aksan and originally consisted of 40 buildings. It is believed
to have been originally established in 418 CE, during the reign of King
Nulchi (r. 417-458) by Master Ado who first brought Buddhism to Shilla
- however, Buddhism was only fully acccepted in about 527.
The name of the temple is very unusual, Direct Pointing Temple.¡±There
are three theories concerning the origin. Master Ado is reputed to have
pointed to Mt. Hwang-aksan and said, "There is a good place for a great
temple to be built."¡± Elsewhere it is recorded that Master Nungyo of the
late Koryo Dynasty measured the site with his hand instead of a ruler.
Finally, the name reflects the core of Korean Buddhism, the teaching that
describes Zen as direct pointing to the human heart, not relying on words
and letters.
¡±
The most famous monk associated with this temple is Master Sa-myong (1544-1610).
Born in 1544, he was orphaned at an early age and ordained at Chikchisa
Temple at the age of sixteen. He then studied under Master Sosan (1520-1604)
in the Diamond Mountains and both of them led an army of some 5,000 trained
soldier-monks to fight off the Japanese invaders of the sixteenth century.
At the beginning of the invasion, King Sonjo (1567-1608) fled the capital,
leaving a poorly-trained, weak army to defend the country. In desperation
he called Master Sosan, who put Master Sa-myong in charge of the operation.
After the invaders were routed, Master Sa-myong was sent as an envoy
to the Japanese court in 1604 and, after completing a peace treaty, he
returned home with 3,000prisoners. Due to his merit the temple was restored.
MasterSa-myong died in 1610 at Haeinsa and there is a memorial shrine to
him at Chikchisa Temple.
After the One-Pillar Gate there is the huge Four Guardians' Gate. On
entering the compound you can see two, three-story pagodas which
date from the Unified Shilla Period. In the Main Hall, a building representative
of Choson architecture, there are the three jewels, a name for the triad
of Sakyamuni, Amitabha and the Medicine Buddha.
Attached to the Avalokitesvara Hall is a memorial shrine for Master
Sa-myong. Inside the 1,000 Buddhas Hall there are small white Buddhas made
of Kyongju jade dating from the Choson Period.
The main statues, dating from 1852, form a triad of Vairocana, the Medicine
Buddha and Sakyamuni. Among the little statues there is one of a naked
baby and it is believed that, if you see it first, then you will have a
son.
To the right is the Judgement Hall with its two rows of five kings of
the hells. Each king is accompanied by three servants, and two guardians
ward off evil by the door. There is a Disciples' Hall which contains some
lovely images of the Buddha's enlightened followers. The most valuable
object in Chikchisa is a granite statue of the Medicine Buddha. It dates
from the Unified Shilla Period and scholars place it at the end of the
9th century. The right hand is on the right knee and the fingers are in
a position known as making evil surrender.¡±In the left hand there is a
vessel containing medicine.
Chikchisa also has a famous bell, cast in 1713. On the upper part of
the bell, the mantras for breaking the hells and Om Mani Padme Hum are
inscribed.
Chikchisa Temple TEL : (0547)436-6174
| Mode | Departure |
Arrival | Duration |
|---|
| Express Bus | Seoul Terminal |
Kimch'on | 3:00 |
|---|
| intercity Bus | Nambu Terminal Seoul |
Kimch'on | 3:20 |
|---|
| Train | Seoul Station |
Kimch'on | 2:25 |
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| Home | Korean Buddhism | next |
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