| 69 Buddhist Temples that are claimed to have been Founded By or by-Inspiration-of Yeon-gi Doseon-guksa |
| Doseon-guksa [Dao-of-Meditation National-Master] (826-898) is one of my personal favorite characters of Korean history. He lived during the collapsing end of the Shilla Dynasty, presaging the foundation of the subsequent Goryeo Dynasty. He was a great Buddhist master of meditation of the Seon [Zen] tradition, but the main reason for his fame is his masterful creation of Korean Pungsu-jiri-seol Geomancy. |
Around 70 monasteries both large and small are claimed to have been founded either under Doseon's supervision and
direction, or by the orders of Taejo Wang Geon (following Doseon's recommendations), and most of them still thrive.
The currently-most-famous temple said to have been founded by Doseon himself is Seoul's Samgak-san Doseon-sa.,
one of "Korea's Top-20 Temples". The 22 temples said to have been founded by Taejo Wang Geon under Doseon's
influence are all fairly minor today; the most significant among them is probably Gyeryong-san Gaetae-sa. Temples that
are claimed to have been established either by Doseon or Wang Geon at the places where Doseon decided would be
most auspicious are called Bibo-sacheol; a listing and discussion of all of them is on this page.
In addition, there are dozens of pre-existing temples that are thought to have been reconstructed, renovated or added-to
(usually with a pagoda), including some of Korea's greatest, such as Jiri-san's Shilsang-sa & Yeongok-sa and Jogye-san
Seonam-sa. Also, a dozen important stone-carved Buddha statues and pagodas are said to have been carved or built
by his own hands, and there are half a dozen caves and crags around Korea that claim to be sites where he practiced his
mystical arts (such as those at Geumo-san and Jiri-san's Saseong-am). Pagodas that were built at the places where
Doseon decided would be most auspicious are called Bibo-satap.
direction, or by the orders of Taejo Wang Geon (following Doseon's recommendations), and most of them still thrive.
The currently-most-famous temple said to have been founded by Doseon himself is Seoul's Samgak-san Doseon-sa.,
one of "Korea's Top-20 Temples". The 22 temples said to have been founded by Taejo Wang Geon under Doseon's
influence are all fairly minor today; the most significant among them is probably Gyeryong-san Gaetae-sa. Temples that
are claimed to have been established either by Doseon or Wang Geon at the places where Doseon decided would be
most auspicious are called Bibo-sacheol; a listing and discussion of all of them is on this page.
In addition, there are dozens of pre-existing temples that are thought to have been reconstructed, renovated or added-to
(usually with a pagoda), including some of Korea's greatest, such as Jiri-san's Shilsang-sa & Yeongok-sa and Jogye-san
Seonam-sa. Also, a dozen important stone-carved Buddha statues and pagodas are said to have been carved or built
by his own hands, and there are half a dozen caves and crags around Korea that claim to be sites where he practiced his
mystical arts (such as those at Geumo-san and Jiri-san's Saseong-am). Pagodas that were built at the places where
Doseon decided would be most auspicious are called Bibo-satap.
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