Sujongsa Temple

Sujongsa is a branch temple of Bongseonsa, located near the summit of Ungilsan Mountain in Songchon-ri, Joan-myeon, Namyangju. This temple is an auspicious site that Seo Geo-jeong once highly praised as having the best view among Eastern temples, offering a panoramic view of Yangsu-ri where the North Han River and South Han River converge, as well as the surrounding mountains. Sujongsa is said to have been first built during the Silla Dynasty, but its detailed history is unknown, and there is an anecdote related to King Sejo of Joseon. The anecdote goes that King Sejo, while returning from Gangwon Province after receiving treatment for a chronic illness, spent a night in Yangsu-ri. He followed the sound of a faint bell and found 18 Arhat statues inside a cave, and water droplets falling from a rock crevice were making the bell-like sound. According to this legend, King Sejo enshrined the 18 Arhats, built a temple, and named it Sujongsa. However, the fact that the stupa of Princess Jeongui, King Sejo's aunt, remains at the temple indicates that it was already a sizable temple before that time. Existing temple buildings include Daeungbojeon (Main Buddha Hall), Eungjinjeon, Yaksajeon, Sansingak (Mountain Spirit Shrine), Jonggak (Bell Pavilion), Gyeonghakwon, and Yosa (Monks' Residence). Important cultural heritage items include the Artifacts from the Sujongsa Stupa (designated as a Treasure) and the Five-story Stone Pagoda of Sujongsa. Inside the temple grounds is a magnificent ginkgo tree, said to have been bestowed by King Sejo, and estimated to be 500 years old. While the scenery of all four seasons is outstanding, the landscape during the autumn foliage season is particularly renowned as a breathtaking sight. It takes about 15 minutes to walk the 400 meters from the Sujongsa parking lot to the temple.