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Boseong Village Rock Carvings
Rock carvings refer to drawings or symbols engraved by prehistoric people on rocks or cave walls, often seen as a result of ritual activities wishing for agricultural abundance and productivity.
The Amgak Rock Carvings in Boseong-ri, Yeongcheon, depict seven images on one side of a turtle-shaped rock. The carved area measures up to 337 cm in length and 130 cm in width. The carvings feature elongated rectangular shapes with concave sides, forming a waistline with a straight line drawn through the middle, dividing it into upper and lower sections where two dots are marked in each square, resembling the Yangjindong-style engraving technique.
Similar to the rock carvings in Chiljeon-ri, Pohang, Yangjeondong in Goryeong, and Gaheung-ri in Yeongju, these carvings are speculated to belong to the same cultural type. However, slight variations in detailed forms suggest different time periods or regions. While exact dating is challenging, these carvings are believed to be from the late Bronze Age or early Iron Age, providing valuable insights into the lifestyle and spiritual world of prehistoric people in the Gyeongsangbuk-do region.
• Address (location): 666-2 Boseong-ri, Cheongdong-myeon, Yeongcheon-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
Joyanggak
Joyanggak is located at 6 Culturewon-gil, Changgu-dong, Yeongcheon-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do, perched atop a hill north of the Yeongcheon River. The pavilion was constructed in 1368, the 17th year of King Gongmin’s reign during the Goryeo Dynasty, through the combined efforts of officials, Confucian scholars, and local residents.
Recognized as one of the three major pavilions in the Yeongnam region, along with Yeongnamnu in Miryang and Chokseoknu in Jinju, Joyanggak was originally called Myeongwon Pavilion or Seose Pavilion. It was once surrounded by buildings such as Cheongryangdang and Ssangcheongdang, but these were all lost during the Japanese invasions of Korea.
The front of Joyanggak spans five kan (a traditional unit of measurement), with three kan on the sides. More than 80 tablets inscribed with poems and writings by numerous scholars and literati are displayed throughout the pavilion. Within the compound, you can also find various monuments, including the Sanam Jinbi, Yeongcheonji District Monument, Baeksinae Literary Monument, and Hwangseong Old Site Song Monument.
• Address (location): 6 Culturewon-gil, Changgu-dong, Yeongcheon-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
Ok-gan-jeong
Ok-gan-jeong is a pavilion built in 1716 during the reign of King Sukjong by the Confucian scholars Jeong Man-yang and Jeong Gyu-yang to educate their students. They conducted academic research and nurtured many scholars here, such as Jeong Jung-gi, who served as Minister of Justice, and Jeong Gan, a renowned scholar. Despite being offered various official positions by the government, they devoted their lives to academic pursuits.
The building, shaped like the Korean letter ‘ㄱ’, consists of three rooms at the front and four rooms on the side, preserving unique features like the window structure. This historic site is a place where foreign tourists can easily appreciate and understand the cultural significance of Confucian education in Korea.
• Address (location): 122 Byeolbit-ro, Hwabuk-myeon, Yeongcheon-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
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Imgo Seowon
Limgo Seowon is a shrine built in 1553 in Gochon-dong, Limgo-myeon to honor the virtues and loyalty of Jeong Mong-ju, a local scholar-official. It was officially named ‘Limgo’ in 1554, destroyed during the Japanese invasions of Korea in 1592 but relocated to its current site in 1603, and renamed the following year.
Over the years, it received additions such as Chang Hyeon-gwang in 1643 and Hwang Bo-in in 1787 to oversee ancestral rites and local education. Unfortunately, it fell into disrepair in 1871 but was restored with the construction of Jonnyeonggak in 1919 to enshrine Jeong Mong-ju’s spirit and serve as a place of ancestral worship.
Within the complex, you can find the shrine, Jonnyeonggak, lecture hall, study room, and guest house. The shrine houses Jeong Mong-ju’s memorial tablet, while Jonnyeonggak holds his spirit tablet. The lecture hall consists of a central hall and side rooms, used for various events, meetings, and academic discussions. The artifacts within the shrine include three spirit tablets of Jeong Mong-ju, 113 woodblocks of his collected works, 71 woodblocks of his philosophical writings, and over 200 other books.
• Address (location): 447 Po-eun Road, Imgo-myeon, Yeongcheon-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
Changdaeseowon
Yeongcheon Changdaeseowon was established in Nokjeon-dong, Yeongcheon City in 1697 to commemorate the righteousness of local Confucian scholars. In 1786 (during the reign of King Jeongjo), it was expanded to honor the achievements of scholars, but was later demolished in 1868 under the order of Daewongun. It was relocated from Changdae Village in Nokjeon-dong to its current location in 1955, and then restored in 2004 after a fire destroyed it.
Changdaeseowon was founded by righteous scholars who bravely defended against enemies and attacked the Japanese invaders without looking back at their own safety during the Imjin War. The complex includes various buildings such as the Sa-u (lecture hall), Shinmun (guest house), Ssangjeondang (main hall), Dongjae (study room), and Monganchae (gatehouse).
The Sa-u is a traditional building with a front width of 3 kan and a side width of 1.5 kan, featuring a gabled and hipped roof. It houses the memorial tablets of the righteous scholars. The Ssangjeondang is the main hall, with a front width of 4 kan and a side width of 1.5 kan, also with a gabled and hipped roof. The building has a raised wooden floor at the front and three ondol (underfloor heating) rooms at the back, surrounded by railings. The Dongjae, located perpendicular to the main hall, has a front width of 3 kan and a side width of 1.5 kan, featuring a hipped roof. It also has a front raised wooden floor and three ondol rooms at the back, similar to the main hall layout.
• Address (location): Changdaeseowon 1-gil 9-18, Gojeon-dong, Yeongcheon-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
Geojosa
If you travel about 8km from Eunhaesa towards Sinnyeong-myeon, you will come across Geojosa. The name Geojosa means a temple where Amitabha Buddha always resides, located on the eastern foot of Palgongsan Mountain. Founded by Master Wonhyo, Geojosa became famous for its 500 Arhats’ prayer ceremony when Hyelim Bosal and a Buddha statue were enshrined in Yeongsanjeon during the 13th year of King Jinpyeong’s reign.
Designated as a national treasure in 1962, ‘Geojosa Yeongsanjeon’ was renamed from Gejoam to Geojosa in March 2021, as a subsidiary temple of Eunhaesa. Korea has only six remaining wooden structures from the Goryeo Dynasty, including Bongjeongsa’s Geuknakjeon in Andong, Gaeksamun in Gangneung, Muryangsujeon in Yeongju’s Buseoksa, Daewoongjeon in Sudeoksa of Yesan, Josadang in Buseoksa, and here at Geojosa’s Yeongsanjeon. These sites are highly valued for their historical significance.
• Address (location): 400-67, Geojo-gil, Cheongdong-myeon, Yeongcheon-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
Manbulsa Temple
Yeongcheon Manbulsa Temple is a temple located on Mt. Manbul in Yeongcheon. It was completed in 1995 after construction began in 1987 with the establishment of branch temples in Seoul, Busan, and Daegu by the monk Haksung, who aimed to create a modern Buddhist sanctuary different from traditional ones.
Before the construction of the temple, various Buddhist rituals were carried out, such as the establishment of the Manbulbojeon (Main Buddha Hall), enshrinement of the Buddha’s relics, and outdoor Amitabha Buddha statue offering, contributing greatly to the spread of modern Buddhism and the promotion of culture, healthcare, and welfare. With free food offerings and various Buddhist activities, the number of believers in the Manbul religion has reached 300,000 nationwide, establishing itself as a leading institution in the bone relic culture after opening the Buddha’s Nirvana stupa in Gyeongnak in 1996.
The artifacts preserved here include not only the Amitabha Buddha but also the largest Vairocana Buddha statue in Korea, five relics of the Buddha brought from Sri Lanka, and a bodhi tree. Additionally, there are other attractions like the Amita Great Buddha, Buddha’s Nirvana, bronze seated statues of the Buddha, Great Bell Pavilion, the Avalokitesvara Hall, Daewoong Hall, and various relics and statues. It is home to the largest Buddha statue in Korea and the most numerous collection of Buddha relics.
• Address (location): 39-14 Naeseo-ro, Bukan-myeon, Yeongcheon-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
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Bongnimsa
Bongnimsa is a branch temple of the 10th district of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, with its headquarters at Eunhaesa. It was founded in 1742 (during the reign of King Yeongjo), and was moved from Beophwasa on the nearby Bohyeonsan Mountain to Hakseosan. Beophwasa was originally established during the reign of King Munmu of the Silla Kingdom.
Legend has it that a monk from Beophwasa fell ill and could not return to the temple, so he stayed in a local village for treatment. The villagers took great care of the monk, and when summer came, they recommended eating dog meat to help him recover. After much deliberation, the monk ate the dog meat and miraculously recovered, returning to the temple on the 7th day of the 7th month. However, on that day, lightning, thunder, and a night-long downpour occurred, and the next day, one monk went missing. This pattern repeated every year on the 7th day of the 7th month, with one monk disappearing after the storm. Eventually, the head monk decided to tie a string to all the monks on the 7th day to track where they disappeared to. The next day, one monk vanished, and following the string, they found a giant centipede sleeping in a cave halfway up the mountain. It was said that they relocated the temple to avoid this calamity.
Within the temple grounds are various buildings such as Daewoongjeon, Sansingak, and Yosachae, with statues of Sakyamuni Buddha as the main deity, along with various guardian deities and paintings.
• Address (location): 2149-368 Cheonmun-ro, Hwabuk-myeon, Yeongcheon-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
Boogwi Temple
Boogwi Temple is the main temple of the 10th district of the Korean Buddhist Jogye Order. Although its detailed history is not widely known, it is said to have been founded by Master Hyerim in 591 along with Geojoam Temple. It is believed to have been continuously maintained through the ages, as it is mentioned in historical records such as the ‘Dongguk Yeojiseungnam’ compiled in 1481 and the ‘Beomugo’ compiled in 1799.
Renovated by Damun in 1873 and relocated to its current location in 1882, the temple features a Dharma Hall, meditation halls, and historic relics like the ‘Jonggak Bell,’ ‘Boogwi Temple Tablet,’ and ‘Boogwiam Bell,’ offering a glimpse into its past grandeur. In the year 2000, a Buddha statue was erected after a prayer ceremony for peace and prosperity.
Within the temple grounds, visitors can explore the Nirvana Hall, Treasure Hall, Shingeom Hall, Sanxingak Pavilion, and meditation halls. One of the highlights is the Boogwi Temple Amita Pagoda, built in 1754 within the Nirvana Hall.
• Address (location): 446 Chilbatgol-gil, Shinnyeong-myeon, Yeongcheon-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
Sudoam Temple
Sudoam, located in Korea, is the main temple of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism. It’s said to have been founded in 647 by two monks, Jajang and Wonhyo, although the exact founding date is unknown, and it was originally known as Geumdangsa. In 1296, a reconstruction took place, and in 1805, it was renamed to its current name by Jingwol.
The temple complex includes the main hall called Wontongjeon, a shrine called Sansingak, a large room used as a meditation hall, and the monks’ living quarters. Wontongjeon houses a statue of Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara, with beautiful paintings and hanging lanterns. There used to be a mountain gate, but it no longer exists.
For those interested in herbal medicine, there’s a hiking trail leading to the famous Gatbawi Rock on Gwanbong Peak. About 1 km further up the mountain, you can find the picturesque Chisan Waterfall, attracting many hikers. In 2001, the area around the temple was developed into the Chisan Tourist Area by Yeongcheon City.
• Address (location): 404 Chisan Tourist Road, Shinyeong-myeon, Yeongcheon-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
Sinnyeong Buddhist Temple
Located in Wanjeon-ri, Sinnyeong-myeon, Yeongcheon City, Sinnyeong Buddhist Temple is the headquarters of the 10th district of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism. It’s the successor to Beopryun Temple, which was established over 200 years ago.
The current main hall was built in 1880, during the 17th year of King Gojong’s reign, indicating that Beopryun Temple originated in the late 19th century. The construction of the current Sinnyeong Buddhist Temple was initiated in 1924 by the sculptor Park Hee-ung. In 1961, the monk Haksan founded the Sanryeong Hall inside the temple, enshrining mountain deities.
As you enter, you’ll see signs for both Sinnyeong Buddhist Temple and Beopryun Temple side by side. Sinnyeong Buddhist Temple serves as a spiritual oasis in the city, promoting education and the teachings of Buddhism to the local community. It actively engages in temple activities through military ceremonies held by nearby military units. Within the temple grounds, you can find the Geukrak Pavilion, a pagoda, and a stone tower, all built in 1924.
• Address (location): 11 Dongsan-gil, Sinyeong-myeon, Yeongcheon-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
Shinheungsa
Shinheungsa Temple is said to have been established during the reign of King Jinpyeong of the Silla Dynasty, but there are no definitive records. Originally located on a plain, the temple was turned into farmland long ago, leaving only a stone pagoda behind.
In 1957, Jang Baek-hyun, who was then a priest in Geumho Pokyo Hall, reconstructed Shinheungsa. Although it’s believed to be a relic from the Unified Silla period based on the stone pagoda within the temple grounds, there is no definitive information available.
Shinheungsa features the three-story stone pagoda of Yeongcheon Sinwol-ri as its centerpiece, along with a Dharma hall and a side building. The three-story stone pagoda of Yeongcheon Sinwol-ri at Shinheungsa has been designated as a treasure and is carefully preserved under management.
• Address (location): 360-29, Geumho-ro, Geumho-eup, Yeongcheon-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
Yeongcheon Pokyodang
Established over 300 years ago by Baekjeonsa, Changwon was later revitalized in 1939 by Dosu, who served as the head monk at Eunhaesa. Renamed “Yeongcheon Pokyodang” in 1953, it’s also known as Cheongnyangsa.
The main hall, Daewoongjeon, overlooks the southern hills with a gentle slope. After being destroyed by fire in 1981, it was reconstructed with cement in 1986. The building features a traditional octagonal roof with 5 bays at the front and 3 bays on the sides. Inside, a bronze statue of Sakyamuni Buddha is enshrined as the main deity, flanked by Avalokitesvara and Jijang Bosal. The temple exudes a sense of serenity and grace, inviting visitors to immerse themselves in its peaceful ambiance.
• Address (location): 69 Seomun-gil, Gyochon-dong, Yeongcheon-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do