Township of Samguk Yusa
I visited the small, ancient Ingak Temple on my last trip to Gunwi County in North Gyeongsang Province. The website of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism claims that “Ingak Temple deserves the title as the most sacred sanctum that embodies the intellectual history of the Korean people.”
It is nestled on a sedimentary area on the banks of the quiet Whicheon stream, with a view of Hwasan Mountain. The temple was erected by the famous Buddhist master, Venerable Uisang, during the Silla Kingdom in 642. Ingak Temple became one of our most famous temples after Buddhist National Preceptor Il-yeon (1206-1289) wrote the Samguk Yusa there in the 13th century, during the Goryeo Kingdom.
The Samguk Yusa is a precious collection of Korean historical records. It includes legends and history as well as a chapter on the genealogies of the monarchs of the ancient Three Kingdoms: Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla. Having explored numerous historic sites and temples all over Korea, Master Il-yeon immersed himself in writing the Samguk Yusa at Ingak Temple based on his research. The five volumes of the book were completed in 1281.
The text is highly regarded by scholars. It is a major source for studying ancient Korean history. While it was written from Abbot Il-yeon’s Buddhist perspective, it provides us with insight into Korean history as well as linguistics, culture, religion, folklore and legends, philosophy, mythology, geography, art and music. He wrote it in the Classical Chinese of the period. It was translated into Korean and in English in modern times.
The oldest copy of the Samguk Yusa is designated a Korean National Treasure. Many significant Korean archeological sites and historical facts would most likely have been forgotten if it were not for the Master Il-yeon’s outstanding dedication.
Another historical account called the Samguk Sagi was written more than a century before the Samguk Yusa by the government scholar, Kim Bu-sik. It is a formal history of the ancient Three Kingdoms.
Remarkably, the name, “Goro-myeon,” of Gunwi County, was changed to “Samguk Yusa-myeon” on Jan. 1, 2021, to commemorate the collection of the Samguk Yusa at the temple. “Myeon” is the Korean term for “township” as an administrative subdivision.
Coincidentally, the name of another township was changed, too. “Yangbuk-myeon,” of Gyeongju City, where the Underwater Tomb of King Munmu of the Silla Kingdom is enshrined, was changed to “Munmudaewang-myeon” on April 1 in recognition of its historical and cultural value.
It is a positive sign that the local government has changed names of such entities as towns, districts and other topographical features to reflect our cultural traditions and to encourage tourism.