담양 용흥사의 역사와 『용흥사사적』

Abstract

Yongheungsa Temple, located in Damyang, Jeollanam-do, was closed during the Korean War but has recently undergone restoration. The temple boasts a rich collection of cultural assets and artifacts dating back to the Joseon Dynasty, offering a window into the past. The History of Yongheungsa Temple, written in 1724, further accentuates its historical importance. Among the artifacts from the Joseon Dynasty, some notable ones include a 1583 painting of the Bodhisattva of Cheonjang housed in Anguksa Temple in Fukuyama, Japan, and a 1645 bronze bell housed in the Daeungjeon Hall of Yongheungsa Temple. Additionally, there is a 1660 wooden Amitabha Buddha statue of Hoejeokam Grotto (currently enshrined at Hoguksa Temple in Damyang) and a 1755 wooden Buddha statue of Sangseonam Grotto (currently enshrined at Hoeamsa Temple in Yangju). At Yongheungsa Temple, various Buddhist texts are preserved, including the Surangama Sutra (1692), the Preface to Collection of Various Writings on the Chan Source (1694), and a Buddhist ritual book called Unsudan Kasa (1694). Cheongshim Ssangin, who rebuilt Yongheungsa Temple in the 1630s, was a monk inheriting the dharma of the Soyo group within the Cheongheo School, thus establishing Yongheungsa Temple as a Soryo group temple. There are conflicting records regarding the Royal Prayer Hall of the Yuksanggung Shrine installed at Yongheungsa Temple in the mid-18th century, with accounts differing between Songgwangsa Temple in Suncheon and Yongheungsa Temple in Damyang. However, upon a thorough examination of various documents, it was concluded that the Royal Prayer Hall was not relocated from Songgwangsa Temple in the 19th century but was actually installed by royal decree around 1743. In the modern era, Yongheungsa Temple became a battleground, serving as a refuge for the Donghak Peasant Army and the Righteous Army. Despite facing challenges, the temple persevered and carried on with its religious activities until the Japanese occupation. The Buddha statue housed in the Daeungjeon Hall during this period was identified as the Five Buddhas of the Seven Buddhas from the past. Records of the monks who served as head monks can be found in the gazette of the Japanese Government- General of Korea.