Gilsangsa Temple吉祥寺

Gilsangsa Temple is a Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism temple situated at the foot of Samgaksan Mountain in Seongbuk-dong, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul. In 1987, Ms. Kim Young-han, deeply moved by Ven. Beopjeong's philosophy of non-possession and pure poverty, donated approximately 7,000 pyeong (about 23,100 square meters) of land and around 40 buildings, which marked the beginning of Gilsangsa Temple's history. Ven. Beopjeong registered it as Daebeopsa Temple in 1995 and then renamed it Gilsangsa Temple, officially founding it on December 14, 1997. Gilsangsa Temple boasts a variety of buildings and facilities, including the Geukrakjeon (Hall of Supreme Bliss), Seolbeopjeon (Dharma Lecture Hall), Jijangjeon (Ksitigarbha Hall), Beomjonggak (Bell Pavilion), a statue of Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva, Gilsangbotap (Gilsang Pagoda), Gilsanghwa Gongdeokbi (Gilsanghwa Monument of Merit), and Ven. Beopjeong Jinyeonggak (Portrait Hall). The Geukrakjeon enshrines Amitabha Buddha as the main deity, flanked by Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva and Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva as attendant bodhisattvas. In 2005, the Jijangjeon and Seonyeoldang (Dining Hall) were reorganized from existing buildings, and in 2008, the Seolbeopjeon and Jonggak were newly constructed, transforming the temple into a practice space harmoniously integrated with nature. Within the temple, a delicate and profound statue of Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva, born from the unique artistic encounter of sculptor Choi Jong-tae, who is both a Buddhist and a Catholic, warmly welcomes many visitors. In 2013, the Jinyeonggak, which displays Ven. Beopjeong's personal effects and writings, was opened. The Seolbeopjeon operates various educational programs, including a Buddhist university, Introduction to Buddhism, yoga, sutra copying (sagyong), and Zen meditation, thereby fulfilling its role as an educational training ground (doryang) for spiritual practice.