Bongjeongsa Temple鳳停寺

Bongjeongsa Temple on Cheondeungsan Mountain is a wonderful place, neither far nor rugged from where we live, allowing for a peaceful escape from the busy city. Home to Korea's oldest wooden building, it is a source of pride for all of us, and anyone who comes to Bongjeongsa can forget all their physical and mental fatigue, breathe in the clean air to their heart's content, and enjoy climbing. Furthermore, it continues the tradition of Korean mountain Buddhism, making it an excellent place for spiritual training. Bongjeongsa Temple was founded in the 12th year of King Munmu of Silla (672 CE) by the monk Neungin, a disciple of Uisang Daesa. Cheondeungsan Mountain was originally called Daemangsan. While Neungin Daesa was practicing asceticism in a rock cave on Daemangsan when he was young, a celestial maiden, impressed by his spiritual power, descended a lantern from the sky, brightly illuminating the cave. Therefore, the mountain was named 'Cheondeungsan' (Heavenly Lantern Mountain) and the cave 'Cheondeunggul' (Heavenly Lantern Cave). After that, the monk Neungin, who continued his practice, folded a paper phoenix with his spiritual power and released it. It flew to this location and stayed, opening the temple gates here. Because the phoenix (鳳, bong) stayed (停, jeong), the temple was named Bongjeongsa. Since its founding, it has undergone six renovations. Its treasures include National Treasure No. 15 Geungnakjeon Hall, National Treasure No. 311 Daeungjeon Hall, Treasure No. 1614 Mural behind the Main Buddha, Treasure No. 1620 Wooden Seated Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva, Treasure No. 448 Hwaeomgangdang Lecture Hall, Treasure No. 449 Gogumdang Hall, Deokhwiru Pavilion, Muryanghaehoe, Samseonggak Shrine, and a Three-story Stone Pagoda, as well as affiliated hermitages: Yeongsan Hermitage, Jijo Hermitage, and Jungam Hermitage. It is a beautiful temple that was also visited by King Taejo of Goryeo and King Gongmin.