Eunhasa Temple

Eunhasa is a mountain temple set partway up Mt. Sineo in Sambang-dong, Gimhae. Its name is said to derive from Eunhasan, an old name for the mountain.

Its founding story is a compelling one. The temple is said to have been established by the monk Jangyu, brother of Queen Heo Hwang-ok — wife of King Suro, founder of the Garak kingdom — and was originally called Seorimsa. The buildings that stood through the mid-Joseon period burned down during the Japanese invasions of the 1590s; the main hall was rebuilt in 1629 and repaired twice more, in 1649 and 1801, giving it the form it has today.

Designated a Gyeongsangnam-do Tangible Cultural Property, the main hall follows a single-story hip-and-gable, multi-bracket style, three bays wide and three bays deep. Carved into its altar is a twin-fish motif believed to be connected to Queen Heo Hwang-ok — an intriguing detail given her legendary voyage from India.

It takes a bit of a walk up the mountainside to reach, which keeps it less crowded and lets the quiet, contemplative feel of a true mountain temple come through.