Gwallyongsa Temple觀龍寺

Gwallyongsa Temple is one of the eight great temples of the Unified Silla period, possessing numerous cultural heritage items, and is also renowned for its beautiful scenery. There is a legend that Wonhyo, along with his disciple Songpa, was offering a hundred-day prayer here when he suddenly saw nine dragons ascending to the sky from a pond. From then on, he named the temple 'Gwallyongsa' (Temple of Observing Dragons) and the mountain 'Guryongsan' (Nine Dragons Mountain). While the Daeungjeon (Main Hall) existed in the first year of King Taejong of Joseon (1401), it was destroyed during the Imjin War. It was rebuilt in the 9th year of King Gwanghaegun (1617) and, after undergoing renovations in the 25th year of King Yeongjo (1749), stands as it is today. Within Gwallyongsa Temple, there are many Buddhist relics, including the Daeungjeon, Yongseondae Stone Seated Sakyamuni Buddha Statue, Gwallyongsa Stone Seated Buddha Statue, and Yaksajeon (Medicine Buddha Hall) (these four are designated as Treasures), as well as the Gwallyongsa Yaksajeon Three-story Stone Pagoda (a Tangible Cultural Heritage item), and stupas.