Yeoncheon Simwonsa Temple Site

Simwonsa Temple Site stands on Bogaesan Mountain, a renowned mountain of the central inland region. Three tiers of stone retaining walls were built in the valley south-west of Hwanhuibong Peak (also called Jijangbong Peak) to create a level site. According to the Records of Yujeomsa Temple and Its Branch Temples, Simwonsa was founded in 647, the first year of Queen Jindeok of Silla, by the Venerable Yeongwon, who named it Heungnimsa Temple. It was rebuilt in 859 (the third year of King Heonan of Silla) by National Preceptor Beomil, and was destroyed by fire in 1393 (the second year of King Taejo of Joseon). When Great Master Muhak rebuilt it in 1396 (the fifth year of King Taejo), he is said to have renamed it Simwonsa. Located deep in the Naesan-ri valley, Simwonsa was a major base for the righteous army (uibyeong, civilian volunteer forces resisting Japanese encroachment) at the end of the Korean Empire period. At the time, around 800 righteous army soldiers led by the commander Heo Wi were stationed there. On 27 September 1907, a Japanese suppression unit attacked, and large numbers of the righteous army were killed; 250 kan [a traditional unit for measuring the size of buildings] of structures were burned down by the Japanese forces, and all 1,602 Buddhist statues housed at Simwonsa were destroyed in the fire. The burned temple was rebuilt during the Japanese colonial period, and by 1942 it had Cheonbuljeon Hall, Bonghyanggak Hall, a mountain-spirit shrine, guest quarters, offices and storehouses, together with the affiliated hermitages of Seongju-am, Seokdaeam, Jijangam and Nam-am. All of these, however, were destroyed in the Korean War that followed. Three rounds of excavation at the Simwonsa site have established the extent of the temple precinct and its building remains, and fragments of clay Buddhist statues, among other artefacts, have been unearthed.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Yeoncheon, Gyeonggi

Designation

Provincial Monument · 시도기념물