Cheonggyesa Temple

Cheonggyesa Temple was founded in the Silla period. In 1284, the tenth year of King Chungnyeol of Goryeo, Jo In-gyu, Lord of Pyeongyang, rebuilt it on a grand scale as his wondang (a votive temple built to pray for a patron's merit), and even had a building put up within the temple for himself to stay in. In the Joseon period, Jo Hyeon, Jo In-gyu's sixth-generation descendant, rebuilt the temple again in the 13th year of King Sejo (1431) and the 30th year of King Sejo (1448); for a long time Cheonggyesa remained the wonchal, or family temple of prayer, of the Jo clan. When an order was issued in the 9th year of King Yeonsan-gun (1503) to close the Buddhist temples within the capital, Cheonggyesa took over from Bongeunsa Temple the role of head temple of the Seon (Zen) school, but it later suffered damage from the Japanese invasions of 1592–98 and from fire. In 1689, the 15th year of King Sukjong, the monk Seonghui rebuilt the temple on a large scale and had its history summarised and inscribed on a stele recording the temple's history. In 1761, the 37th year of King Yeongjo, the crown grandson, the future King Jeongjo, visited Cheonggyesa in person, established a place of prayer there for the royal family, and had 3,000 chestnut trees planted and placed under the temple's care. In 1789, the 13th year of King Jeongjo, the Hyeollyungwon Jegak, a memorial shrine for the royal tomb of Hyeollyungwon, was built there. Afterwards, in 1798, the 22nd year of King Jeongjo, Buddhist works were carried out through the sponsorship of Jo Mu-ui, a descendant of Jo In-gyu. From then on, through continuous Buddhist works carried out from the late Joseon period into the Japanese colonial period, Cheonggyesa was able to maintain the form of its monastic complex (garam) in stable condition. In particular, in the 19th century Gyeongheo (1849–1912), who brought about a revival of Korean Seon Buddhism, left home to become a monk here and attained enlightenment, and monks in his Seon lineage, including Mangong (1871–1946), Geumo (1896–1968) and Wolsan (1912–1997), also trained at this temple. The temple buildings include Geungnakbojeon Hall, believed to date from the late Joseon period, a bell pavilion, Samseonggak (Hall of the Three Sages), Jijangjeon Hall, and three monks' quarters including a wash-house, making ten buildings in all, together with the Gamnoji pond.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Uiwang, Gyeonggi

Designation

Cultural Heritage Material · 문화유산자료