Neungga Temple

Neunggasa Temple, a branch temple of Songgwangsa Temple, which is the head temple of the 21st district of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, is one of the four great temples of Honam, large in scale and located on flat land. It was founded in 417 by Master Ado and named Bohyeonsa. After it was completely burned down during the Imjin War, it was rebuilt by Master Byeokcheon Jeonghyeon in the 22nd year of King Injo's reign of Joseon (1644) and renamed Neunggasa. It is said that Byeokcheon, who was originally practicing asceticism on Jirisan Mountain at the age of 90, had a dream one night where the Buddha appeared and gave him a revelation to build a temple to save sentient beings, leading him to newly construct Neunggasa Temple here. Neunggasa Temple is one of the four great temples of Honam, large in scale and located on flat land. Existing temple buildings include Daeungjeon Hall, designated as Treasure No. 1307, which has five bays in the front, three bays on the sides, and a paljak roof (hip-and-gable roof), along with Eungjindang Hall, Jonggak (bell pavilion), Cheonwangmun (Four Heavenly Kings Gate), and living quarters for monks. Since 2018, Neunggasa Temple has been designated as a Temple Stay temple and operates the "Southern Sea Meditation Journey Temple Stay" program. Located at the foot of Palyeongsan Mountain, it offers views of Palyeongsan, and the Palyeongsan Automobile Campground is located nearby, just past Neunggasa Temple.