Bongnyeongsa

Bongnyeongsa Temple is a branch temple of Yongjusa Temple, the head temple of the 2nd district of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, located at the foot of Gwanggyosan Mountain in Uman-dong, Jangan-gu, Suwon City. Bongnyeongsa Temple, situated at the foot of Gwanggyosan Mountain, is the oldest temple in Suwon. Its Stone Triad Buddha statues from the Goryeo Dynasty and an 800-year-old juniper tree in the front courtyard of the Daeungjeon (main hall) stand as living testaments to the temple's founding and its long history, continuing to this day. It was founded in 1208 by National Preceptor Wongak, who named it Seongchangsa Temple. Around 1400, it was renamed Bongdeoksa Temple, and then in 1469, the first year of King Yejong's reign in the Joseon Dynasty, National Preceptor Hyegak renovated it and renamed it Bongnyeongsa Temple. National Preceptor Hyegak received the esteemed treatment of a teacher from King Sejo and was also a great monk who contributed to the vernacular translation of scriptures for the Ganjingdogam (Sutra Translation Office). Bongnyeongsa Temple entered a new era from 1971 when Bhikkhuni Myojeon became its abbess. She oversaw the construction of new monks' quarters (yosa) and a meditation hall (seonwon), and subsequently, in 1975, a Buddhist college (seungga hagwon) was founded with Bhikkhuni Myoeom as its lecturer. Then, in 1979, Bhikkhuni Myoeom took on both roles as abbess and president, and the institution was renamed Seungga University (Buddhist University). Currently, the temple strengthens its internal foundation as a training ground for bhikkhunis, equipped with a meditation hall (seonwon), a lecture hall (gangwon), and a Vinaya institute (yulwon). Fittingly for its location on Gwanggyosan Mountain, it is a place dedicated to spreading teachings widely, cultivating Buddhist nature, and diligently studying and practicing to become a cornerstone of Korean Buddhism.