Around Yakcheonsa Temple

Yakcheonsa Temple

Jeju Yakcheonsa, situated in Seogwipo-si, Jeju Island, is a massive temple renowned as a local landmark. It is a sub-temple (말사) of Eunhaesa, the head temple (본사) of the 10th district of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, and features a grand Dharma hall. Originally a small hermitage called Yaksam-am, it acquired the name Yakcheonsa (meaning 'Medicine Spring Temple') due to a famous mineral spring nearby. The temple underwent significant expansion under Hyein, who became chief monk in 1981, leading to the construction of the Daejeokgwangjeon (Great Hall of Tranquil Light) in 1996. This hall, known for its immense scale as a single temple building, quickly brought fame to Yakcheonsa. The Daejeokgwangjeon is a concrete structure designed in the early Joseon Buddhist architectural style, featuring an open-story interior. In the bell pavilion located in front of the Dharma hall, a bronze bell is hung, engraved with texts and illustrations that emphasize filial piety. There is also a story that in the 1960s, the Confucian scholar Kim Hyeong-gon, suffering from a chronic illness, prayed for 100 days in a small cave. He dreamt of receiving and drinking medicinal water, recovered his health, and to repay the Buddha's grace, built Yaksam-am, where he devoted himself to spiritual practice until his passing. With its majestic size, Yakcheonsa is considered a must-visit attraction for tourists to Jeju Island, and it also offers temple stay programs for both domestic and international visitors. The temple enshrines ancestral tablets for King Munjong, son of King Sejong, and Queen Hyeondeok, as well as for Crown Prince Yeongchin and Princess Yi Bangja.