What is "girimsa"

Girimsa is a Buddhist temple located on the slopes of Mount Hamwolsan in Gyeongju city, the North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea. It is a subsidiary temple of Bulguksa, the head temple of the 11th branch of Jogye Order. The temple was first established by Monk Gwangyu from India as Imjeongsa in 643, the period of Queen Seondeok's reign (r. 632-647 AD) during the Silla kingdom period (57 BC–935 AD).

After monk Wonhyo rebuilt the temple, the temple's name was changed to Girimsa which name derives from "Girim jeongsa" , meaning the forest where Buddha resided. Once it was the biggest temple in the Gyeongju area until the mid-1940s, even having Bulguksa as its branch temple. However, the situation has been changed - while Bulguksa has thrived onwards, Girimsa has not due to the accessibility. Yet, the temple consists of 16 buildings containing Daejeokgwangjeon hall , Yaksajeon hall and Eungjinjeon hall and others. In addition to the buildings, Girimasa has relics such as Moktap Site, Three-Story Stone Pagoda and the lacquered Seated Mercy Bodhisattva of Girimsa Temple (Treasure No. 415).