Sana Temple薩那寺

Sanasa Valley is a valley developed on the southwestern foothills of Yongmunsan Mountain, characterized by its wide breadth, clean water, and abundant water volume. The road to the valley entrance is paved, and the path leading up to Sanasa Temple, with its verdant forests and scenic ridges of Yongmunsan Mountain, becomes a popular destination for summer vacationers every year. Camping or homestays are available near the valley, and visitors can also enjoy hiking Baekunbong Peak and Yongmunsan Mountain. Nearby is Keungol Valley, flowing down from Daebusan Mountain, which features a paragliding launch site, Yangpyeong County Youth Training Center, and Seolmaejae Recreational Forest. About 100 meters up from the valley entrance, one encounters Hamwanghyeol Cave, imbued with the legend of Hamwang, a local chieftain during the Goryeo Dynasty, and a little further up, Sanasa Temple appears, modestly nestled beside a deep valley. Behind Sanasa Temple, a hiking trail leads up to Baekunbong Peak. Sanasa Temple was the first to use the name Jogyejong in Korean Buddhism and unified the Five Doctrines and Nine Mountains schools that had been passed down since the Unified Silla period. It is the temple where the eminent monk Bou, who established a unified order combining Seon (Zen) and Kyo (doctrinal) Buddhism and enjoyed the titles of Royal Preceptor and National Preceptor but preferred mountain temples over royal palaces, spent his later years. Therefore, the period when Bou resided there was the most prosperous time for Sanasa Temple. Records indicate that during this time, Sanasa Temple was extensively rebuilt on a grand scale of 140 'kan'. Within its precincts are the Stele for National Preceptor Wonjeung and the Stone Stupa for National Preceptor Wonjeung of Sanasa Temple.