Yongyeonsa, Biseulsan

Temple · Daegu

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In short

Where a portion of Tongdosa’s Buddha relics, evacuated during the Imjin War, was taken in on the journey back.

The Geumgang ordination platform of Yongyeonsa in Dalseong-gun, Daegu. — 최옥석 / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Quick facts

Address: 260 Yongyeonsa-gil, Okpo-eup, Dalseong-gun, Daegu

About this place

Yongyeonsa stands on Biseulsan in Okpo-eup, Dalseong-gun, Daegu. Its Geumgang ordination platform, which enshrines Buddha relics, was designated a Treasure in 1971. During the Imjin War the Buddha relics of Tongdosa had been moved to Myohyangsan to escape the fighting; when Cheongjin, a disciple of the master Samyeong, was carrying them back to Tongdosa, the monks of Yongyeonsa took in a portion and enshrined it here. A record states that a platform five cheok and five chon high was made in 1673, built in imitation of the form of Tongdosa’s relic platform. The Sakyamuni stele, however, records that this platform was completed in 1613, the fifth year of Gwanghaegun. A platform enshrining Buddha relics carries the sense that the Buddha is always present there, and it is called a Geumgang platform because the enshrining of relics is held foremost among places where the precepts may be kept as firm as diamond.

Origin and history

The Geumgang ordination platform here, which enshrines Buddha relics, was designated a Treasure in 1971.

During the Imjin War the Buddha relics of Tongdosa had been moved to Myohyangsan to escape the fighting; when Cheongjin, a disciple of the master Samyeong, was carrying them back to Tongdosa, the monks of Yongyeonsa took in a portion and enshrined it here.

A record states that a platform five cheok and five chon high was made in 1673, built in imitation of the form of Tongdosa’s relic platform. The Sakyamuni stele, however, records that the platform was completed in 1613.

A platform enshrining Buddha relics carries the sense that the Buddha is always present there, and it is called a Geumgang platform because the enshrining of relics is held foremost among places where the precepts may be kept as firm as diamond.

What it is locally associated with

Origin
A portion taken in on the way back
When the evacuated relics of Tongdosa were being carried back, the monks of Yongyeonsa took a portion and enshrined it here.
documented history
Origin
A form copied from Tongdosa
The Geumgang platform here was made in imitation of the form of Tongdosa’s relic platform.
documented history
What people do here
Two completion dates
One record gives the platform as made in 1673; the Sakyamuni stele records its completion in 1613.
documented history

The relics here were divided in transit. Tongdosa’s Buddha relics had gone to Myohyangsan to escape the Imjin War, and on the journey back the monks of Yongyeonsa took a portion and enshrined it here. What sits in this temple’s platform is a share separated during a move.

The place those relics came from is also on this site. Tongdosa in Yangsan is known for its Geumgang platform, and the platform here was made in imitation of its form. Both the thing and the shape came from there.

Buinsa, in the same city, is the reverse of this story. There the Tripitaka woodblocks were brought in to escape invasions from the north and were lost entirely in 1232. One case moved and survived and was divided; the other moved and burned anyway.

Two completion dates are handed down. One record gives 1673; the Sakyamuni stele gives 1613. The two do not agree, and each is left here as its own source has it.

Claims and evidence levels 2

A portion of Tongdosa’s Buddha relics was taken in and enshrined here as they were carried back from their wartime evacuation to Myohyangsan. documented history
The platform was made in imitation of Tongdosa’s relic platform and was designated a Treasure in 1971. documented history

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