Grand Master Samyeong's Birthplace
This is the where the Grand Master Samyeong, a Buddhist monk from late Joseon Dynasty, was born. The master was born as the second son of Lim Su-seong in 1544, and left his house at age thirteen to stay at Jikjisa Temple until he became a Buddhist monk.
The complex currently consists of Sukcheongsa, a shrine, Yukyeongdang, where the master was born and raised, and Samyeongdang, a building where the master spent time meditating and studying. The complex was designated as Gyeongsangnam-do Heritage No. 116 in 1992.
Grand Master Samyeong spent his youth here, and left many stories.
In addition, a rock on which the master rested on his journey home remains nearby, allowing the visitors to experience and feel the life of this great man.
At the western edge of the mountain in the back of the village are tombs of the master's grandmother and parents.
When Japan invaded Korea in 1592, Grand Master Samyeong organized Buddhist monks to fight against the invaders. This Buddhist army participated in the battle to recapture Pyeongyang, led by the Chinese support army in 1593.
King Seonjo recognized the grand masters performance in the war, gave him titles, and made him a minister to negotiate peace with Japan.
Transportation
From Gyeongju and Ulsan
By Car
- Eonyang IC → Seongnam Tunnel (Route 24) → Sannae-myeon Office → Geumgok Intersection (Route 1077) → Ginneup Intersection → Miryang City Hall → Gyodong Intersection (turn right) → Bubuk-myeon Intersection → Muan-myeon Sinbok Intersection → Muan-myeon Office → Grand Master Samyeong's Birthplace
By Intercity Bus
- Gyeongju Intercity Bus Terminal→ Gyeongsan→ Cheongdo → Miryang Bus Terminal → Bus towards Muan
- Ulsan Intercity Bus Terminal → Bus towards Seongnam → Miryang Intercity Bus Terminal → City bus towards Muan
From Daegu
By Car
- Nammiryang IC → Miryang Police Station → Bubuk-myeon Intersection → Muan-myeon Sinbok 3-ga Intersection → Muan-myeon Office → Grand Master Samyeong's Birthplace
By Intercity Bus
- Nambu Intercity Bus Terminal → Miryang Intercity Bus Terminal → Bus Towards Muan-myeon
From Changwon and Masan
By Car
- Dongchangwon IC → Jinyeong-gun (Route 25) → Miryang Police Station → Bubuk-myeon Intersection → Muan-myeon Sinbok 3-ga Intersection → Muan-myeon Office → Grand Master Samyeong's Birthplace
By Intercity Bus
- Changwon Intercity Bus Terminal → Jinyeong → Hanam → Miryang Intercity Bus Terminal → Towards Muan
From Changnyeong
By Car
- Yeongsan IC → Changnyeong Bugok Hot Spring → Ingyo Intersection (Route 1080) → Grand Master Samyeong's Birthplace
By Intercity Bus
- Changnyeong Intercity Bus Terminal → Muan Bus Terminal → Bus to Gora-ri, Muan-myeon
By Train
- Miryang Station → Miryang Intercity Bus Terminal → To Muan
Nearby Tourist Attractions
- Pyochungsa Stone Tablet, Yeongsanjeongsa Temple, Euibyeondang, Miribeol Folk Museum
Pyochungsa Temple
Pyochungsa Temple, located at the foot of Jaeyaksan Mountain (height 1,189m), sometimes called Yeongnam Alps, is home to Pyochung Confucian School that educates Confucian scholars and offers rituals to the past scholars.
It is a unique Buddhist temple combining Buddhism and Confucianism in one location. The temple was first founded by Master Wonhyo in 654 as Jungnimsa Temple. During the reign of King Heungdeok of Silla, the temple was renamed Yeongjeongsa, and in 1839 the temple was relocated to newly enshrined Masters Seosan, Samyong, and Giheo who fought against the Japanese during their invasion of Korea in the sixteenth century.
The temple was renamed again as Pyochungsa at this time. Since Silla Dynasty to Goryo Dynasty, Pyochungsa was supervised by abbots such as Bou (889), Ilyeon (1286) (author of history book Samguk Yusa) and Cheonhee (1290), elevating it to the level of national temple.
During the late Joseon Dynasty, the eighth successor of Grand Master Samyeong, Master Cheonyu, became the director of all Buddhist temples in Korea. He established the inspection office for Korean Buddhism in Pyochungsa Temple.
In the modern times, Master Hyobong, the first director of the combined Korean Buddhism, served as the abbot of this temple until he passed away.
The temple has been renowned for its beautiful mountains and deep valleys, and harbors various legends of great Buddhist masters throughout its history.
Transportation
From Gyeongju and Ulsan
By Car
- Eonyang IC → Gajisan Tunnel (Route 24) → Hobakso Tunnel → Eoreumgol Intersection → Towards Doraejae (left turn) → Roundabout → Towards Pyochungsa Temple
By Intercity Bus
- Gyeongju Intercity Bus Terminal→ Gyeongsan→ Cheongdo → Miryang Bus Terminal → Bus towards Pyochungsa Temple
- Ulsan Intercity Bus Terminal → Bus towards Seongnamsa Temple → Miryang Intercity Bus Terminal → City bus towards Pyochungsa Temple
From Daegu
By Car
- Miryang IC (in the same direction as Ulsan) → Geumgok Intersection (turn right) → Towards Danjang → Pyochungsa Temple
By Intercity Bus
- Nambu Intercity Bus Terminal → Miryang Intercity Bus Terminal → City bus towards Pyochungsa Temple
From Changwon and Masan
By Car
- Dongchangwon IC → Jinyeong Route 25 → Miryang Police Station → Miryang City Hall → Ginneup Intersection (intersection between Routes 24 and 25) → Geumgok Intersection (turn right) → Towards Danjang → Pyochungsa Temple
By Intercity Bus
- Changwon Intercity Bus Terminal→ Jinyeong → Hanam → Miryang Bus Terminal → Bus towards Pyochungsa Temple
From Changnyeong
By Car
- Yeongsan IC → Changnyeong Bugok Hot Spring→ Ingyo Intersection (Route 1080) → Muan-myeon → Yeongnam Agriculture Test Center → Gyodong Sinchon Intersection → Miryang City Hall → Ginneup Intersection (intersection between Routes 24 and 25) → Geumgok Intersection (turn right) → Towards Danjang → Pyochungsa Temple
By Intercity Bus
- Changnyeong Intercity Bus Terminal → Muan → Miryang Intercity Bus Terminal → City bus towards Pyochungsa Temple
By Train
- Miryang Station → Miryang Intercity Bus Terminal → Towards Pyochungsa Temple → City bus
Nearby Tourist Attractions
- Eoreumgol, Hobakso, Jeyaksan Mountain, Sajapyeong Plains
Pyochung Stone Tablet
Pyochung Stone Tablet is also called "sweating stone table," and is located in Hongjesa Temple in Muan-myeon, Miryang-si.
On the front side of the tablet, the loyal acts and achievements of Grand Master Samyeong is inscribed. The tablet tells how the master led an army of Buddhist monks to fight the Japanese invaders in the sixteenth century, and then went to Japan as a minister of the king to negotiate peace and gather intelligence to bring peace between Korea and Japan.
Dogok Lee Eui-hyeon, who was the prime minister during the reign of King Yeongjo, composed the contents, and Kim Jin-sang wrote the characters on to the tablet. Yu Cheok-gi, another prime minister, wrote the signboard at the stone tablet.
On the back of the tablet, the Buddhist master's great virtue and mysterious works. Inscribed on the sides are the history of Pyochungsa Temple and the names of people who contributed to the installation of the stone tablet, which is made from a black rock from Gyeongsan brought by the fifth successor of master, Master Nambung, in 1742.
The foundation stones are made with granite, and the stone tablet rises 380cm from the ground, with a width of 98cm and thickness of 56cm and an imposing shape.
Droplets of water formed on the surface of Pyochungbi Stone Tablet whenever big incidents took place in Korea, which people say is the spirit of Grand Master Samyeong displaying concern for the country and the people of Korea.
Transportation
From Gyeongju and Ulsan
By Car
- Eonyang IC → Gajisan Tunnel (Route 24) → Hobakso Tunnel → Sannae-myeon Office → Geumgok Intersection (Route 1077) → Ginneup Intersection → Miryang City Hall → Right turn on Gyodong Intersection → Bubuk-myeon Intersection → Pyochungbi Stone Tablet
By Intercity Bus
- Gyeongju Intercity Bus Terminal→ Gyeongsan→ Cheongdo → Miryang Bus Terminal → Bus towards Muan
- Ulsan Intercity Bus Terminal → Bus towards Seongnam → Miryang Intercity Bus Terminal → City bus towards Muan
From Daegu
By Car
- Nammiryang IC → Miryang Police Station → Bubuk-myeon Intersection → Muan-myeon Sinbok 3-ga Intersection → Pyochung Stone Tablet
By Intercity Bus
- Nambu Intercity Bus Terminal → Miryang Intercity Bus Terminal → Bus Towards Muan-myeon
From Changwon and Masan
By Car
- Dongchangwon IC → Jinyeong (Route 25) → Hanam-eup (Route1008) → Miribeol Folk Museum → Ingyo Intersection → Muan-myeon Office → Pyochungbi Stone Tablet
By Intercity Bus
- Changwon Intercity Bus Terminal → Jinyeong → Hanam → Miryang Intercity Bus Terminal → Towards Muan
From Changnyeong
By Car
- Yeongsan IC → Changnyeong Bugok Hot Spring → Ingyo Intersection (Route 1080) → Grand Master Samyeong's Birthplace
By Intercity Bus
- Changnyeong Intercity Bus Terminal → Muan Bus Terminal → Bus to Gora-ri, Muan-myeon
By Train
- Miryang Station → Miryang Intercity Bus Terminal → To Muan
Nearby Tourist Attractions
- Grand Master Samyeong's Birthplace, Hongjesa Temple, Yeongsanjeong Temple, Euibyeondang, Miribeol Folk Museum