Bukhansan Mountain Jungheungsa Temple Site

Jungheungsa Temple Site lies on the northern slope where Jamnyong-dong Valley and Yonggye-dong Valley on Bukhansan Mountain meet. No detailed record survives of the temple's founding. However, since Jungheungsa Temple preserves a bronze banja, a flat bronze gong used in Buddhist rituals, cast in 1103, the eighth year of King Sukjong of Goryeo, and a hyangwan, a Buddhist incense burner, made in 1344, the fifth year of King Chunghye, it is thought to have been founded in the early Goryeo period. In addition, the memorial stele for Preceptor Taego Bou, erected in 1385, the eleventh year of King U of Goryeo, shows that Preceptor Bou built Taegoam Hermitage within Jungheungsa Temple in 1341 and resided there. In the Joseon dynasty, records show that taxes on Jungheungsa Temple were exempted under King Taejo, and that a rain-prayer ritual was held there under King Taejong, suggesting the temple retained a degree of standing into the early Joseon period. Jungheungsa Temple was one of eleven temples established to defend Bukhansanseong Fortress after its construction in 1711, the thirty-seventh year of King Sukjong. According to the Bukhanji, a gazetteer of Bukhansanseong Fortress, 'Jungheungsa Temple originally had only around thirty kan (bays), but was rebuilt to 136 kan when Bukhansanseong Fortress was constructed', showing that the temple precinct was expanded at this time. The eleven monk-garrison temples of Bukhansanseong Fortress were staffed with eleven monk generals, eleven supervising monks and 350 monk soldiers responsible for defending the fortress. Jungheungsa Temple was the seat of the commander-general of the monk soldiers, who held the title of Paldo Dochongseop (Director-General of the Eight Provinces) and commanded all monk troops stationed at the fortress. Jungheungsa Temple suffered severe damage in a fire in 1904 and was further damaged by flooding in 1914, after which it was eventually abandoned. Today the Daeungjeon Hall, monks' quarters and Manseru Pavilion have been restored.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Goyang, Gyeonggi

Designation

Provincial Monument · 시도기념물