Yongmunsa Temple (Yecheon)龍門寺

Yongmunsa is a branch temple of Jikjisa, which is the 8th district head temple of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism. It is said to have been founded in 870 (the 10th year of King Gyeongmun of Silla) by Seon Master Duun. When King Taejo Wang Geon of Goryeo was on his way to conquer Silla, he found this temple, but the dense fog made it impossible to distinguish anything nearby. Since two blue dragons appeared from somewhere and guided his way, it was named 'Yongmunsa'. During the reign of King Myeongjong of Goryeo, it was renamed 'Yongmunsa Changgisa,' but after enshrining the taesil (placenta chamber) of Queen Sohyeon, King Sejong the Great's consort, it was changed back to Seongbulsa Yongmunsa. During King Jeongjo's reign, the taesil of Crown Prince Munhyo was placed here, and it was renamed Sobaeksan Yongmunsa, which it remains to this day. Within the temple grounds are Daejangjeon, Eungjinjeon, Myeongbujeon, Jinyeongdang, Iljumun, Jaunru, and a Seongbo Museum. The Seongbo Museum houses about 10 cultural properties, including the Yunjangdae (revolving Buddhist canon library), which is the only one remaining in Korea. Furthermore, the carved wooden Buddhist painting (mokgaktaenghwa) created during the reign of King Sukjong of Joseon is known to be the oldest of its kind in Korea. In particular, it is believed that by rotating the Yunjangdae, which houses the Tripitaka Koreana (Palgwan Daejanggyeongpan), worldly desires vanish, merits accumulate, and wishes are fulfilled. For this reason, pilgrims have continuously visited the temple since ancient times.