Photo Gallery

Bongeunsa Temple - 봉은사 (奉恩寺) (founded 794, mostly late 19th early 20th c.)

Bongeunsa temple is located south of the Han river in the midst of urban sprawl. It is one of the few large-scale urban temples to be found in the country. Bongeunsa was founded in 794 by Yeon-hoe, then the highest ranking monk of the Silla dynasty. At that time the temple was called Kyongseoungsa. The temple fell into disrepair during the Goryeo dynasty but was reconstructed in 1498 under the patronage of a Joseon-dynasty Queen. During the Joseon dynasty Buddhism was strongly discouraged, but there was a brief lull in the mid-16th century during the rule of Queen Munjeong, who acted as regent for King Myeongjong. At that time the Queen had Bongeunsa reconstructed and appointed the monk Bo-wu in 1548 to oversee the temple. In 1551 Bongeunsa became the main temple of the Jogye son order. Bo-Wu died soon afterward when anti-Buddhist elements had him killed after the end of the Queen's regency

In 1855 the monk Young-ki completed woodblock carvings of the Flower Garland sutra. These can still be seen in one of the halls which escaped destruction during the Korean war.

Bongeunsa was made one of Korea's 14 major temples in 1902. During the Japanese occupation the temple became the headquarters of 80 smaller Buddhist temples around Seoul. In 1922 and 1929, the head monk Cheong-ho saved over 700 people from drowning in the Han river, an act that inspired a monument of recognition. After colonial rule Bongeunsa became subordinate to the Jogye order, the largest Buddhist sect in Korea. It is unfortunate that this temple was largely destroyed during the Korean war. However, reconstruction continues even today.

Address: 서울 강남구 삼성동 73번지.