Ssanggyesa Temple

Shuangkei Temple is located at the southern foot of Jirisan Mountain. Together with Hwaeumsa Temple, it is a famous temple representing Jirisan Mountain. In the 23rd year of King Seongdeok of Silla (723), the temple was built in three ways and named Yucheonsa Temple. In 840, Master Zhenjian brought the seeds of tea trees from China, planted them around the temple, and renamed it Shuangxi Temple. The existing temple was rebuilt after it was destroyed during the Imjin Japanese Rebellion. The best time to visit Shuangkei Temple is spring. On the 6-kilometer road from Huakai Market to the entrance of Shuangkei Temple, the 60-year-old cherry blossom trees are in full bloom, as if entering a dream world. This is the famous Huakai Market Shili Cherry Blossom Road. It is said that all lovers who walk this road will be married, so it is also called the wedding road. Indulge in the beauty of cherry blossoms, walk for about 40-50 minutes, and then arrive at Shuangkei Temple. After passing the small bridge in front of the ticket office, there are two huge rocks on the left and right, with the four characters "Shuangxi" and "Shimen" engraved on them. It is said that this book was written by Cui Zhiyuan, a great scholar of the new school, with one end of a crutch. In the middle of Shuangxi Temple is the Daxiong Hall. In the courtyard in front of it is the "Zhenjian Zen Master Dakong Pagoda Stele". The inscription on the stele was also created and written by Cui Zhiyuan. In addition, the Eight Swimming Tower is the birthplace of Buddhist music. It is said that the founder of Korean Buddhist music, Master Zhenjian, returned to China after studying Buddhist music in China, and created Buddhist music that conforms to the characteristics of the Korean nation-Banbai. There are many well-known Buddhist chants here. Zen Master Zhenjian saw the fish jumping out of the water in the Seomjin River, so he composed "Mountain of Fish" in octave. Therefore, it is called the Eight Swimming Buildings. Shuangkei Temple has a deep connection with tea. In the 3rd year of King Heung-deok of Silla (828), Kim Dae-yeon brought tea seeds back to the country after his mission to the Tang Dynasty, and was ordered by the king to plant them in the area of Sanggyesa Temple, south of Jirisan Mountain, which became an early tea cultivation area in Korea.