Baekdamsa Temple

Baekdamsa Temple was founded in 647 by Precept Master Jajang (590-658) in the first year of Queen Jindeok (647-654), the 28th ruler during the Silla Dynasty. The name of this temple was not Baekdamsa. It was originally named Hangyesa Temple, then renamed Baedamsa after many years of being burned down.

One day, a monk of the temple dreamed. A Seorak mountain spirit came up in his dream, saying that he should count the number of ponds from Daecheongbong, the peak of Seorak mountain to the temple and rename the temple after its number. He counted the ponds to the peak of the mountain, then renamed it Baekdamsa. Baek means a hundred, and Dam refers to a pond.

Since then, there have been no fire incidents.

There is another interesting story in this temple.

The most famous monk of Baekamsa is Handae Han Yongun. During the Japanese Occupation in Korea, he represented the thirty-three activities and declared the country’s independence during the March 1st Independence Movement resisting the Japanese Occupation. He finished writing a book titled Nimui Chimmuk, or the Silence of the Holy Man as a protest against Japanese’s invasion.

Ironically, this is the temple where South Korea’s most vilified former military dictator stayed for two years as an exile from 1988 to 1990. He was responsible for the massacre of the southwestern city of Gwangju after he took power in a coup in 1979.

Bakdam Temple

http://baekdamsa.templestay.com/