Bulgapsa Temple, Yeonggwang

Bulgapsa sits at the foot of Bulgapsan (516 m) in Yeonggwang, and tradition says it was the very first temple founded by Marananta, the Indian monk who brought Buddhism to Baekje. Hence the name, written with the characters for "Buddha" and "first". In mid-September the surrounding woods turn red with red spider lilies (sangsahwa), and the Bulgapsan Spider Lily Festival draws visitors from all over the country.

Marananta and Baekje Buddhism

In 384, under King Chimnyu of Baekje, Marananta is said to have landed at Beopseongpo in Yeonggwang and begun spreading Buddhism. Bulgapsa is known as the first temple he founded, though another account credits the monk Haengeun under King Mu, so the true founding date is uncertain. A temple this old has gathered many legends along the way.

The main hall and its statues

• Daeungjeon Hall (Treasure): three bays by three under a hipped-and-gabled roof. A roof tile inscribed with the 29th year of Qianlong dates a rebuilding to about 1764, and it was repaired again in 1909. The lotus and chrysanthemum lattice on the central doors is especially fine; also look for the carved dragon heads and the tiny stone pagoda and bodhi tree on the roof ridge.
• Wooden Seated Buddha Triad (Treasure): Shakyamuni flanked by the Medicine Buddha and Amitabha. Records found inside show they were made in 1635 by the monk Muyeom and nine other painter-monks; note how realistically the hands are carved.
• Wooden Four Heavenly Kings (Treasure): the guardians in the Heavenly Kings Gate are more than 4 m tall, assembled from pieces of ginkgo wood. They originally stood at Yeongisa Temple in Mujang and are said to have been moved here in 1876 by the monk Seoldu.

Other buildings in the grounds

Besides the main hall, the grounds hold the Palsangjeon, Chilseonggak, Manseru, the bell pavilion, Myeongbujeon and Ilgwangdang. Texts sealed inside the Palsangjeon statues, 93 items of mostly early Joseon Buddhist scriptures with a few Goryeo editions, are now a Treasure. The temple's bronze bell is a provincial heritage item with the temple's name cast on its body.

Evergreens and spider lilies

Behind the temple is a Natural Monument: the northern limit of native Neolitsea sericea, an evergreen tree otherwise found on the southern coasts and islands. Another of these trees stands beside the pavilion next to the Heavenly Kings Gate.

Above all, Bulgapsa is famous for its spider lilies. Their Korean name, sangsahwa, means "flower of longing": the leaves die back before the flowers appear, so the two never meet. Around mid-September the forest path up to the temple and the surrounding slopes turn crimson. In 2026 the 26th Yeonggwang Bulgapsan Spider Lily Festival ran from 18 to 27 September.

Tripto tips

• Time needed: an hour for the temple; half a day with a forest walk or a hike on Bulgapsan.
• Best time: peak bloom in mid to late September is also the busiest time; during the festival the paths are lit at night for evening walks. For quiet, come on a weekday morning.
• Getting there: 450 Bulgapsa-ro, Bulgap-myeon, Yeonggwang. It is about 20 minutes by car from central Yeonggwang, so a car or taxi is easiest.
• Temple stay: experience and retreat programmes are offered and attract many foreign participants; contact the temple in advance (Yeonggwang County lists +82-61-350-4889).