Guinsa Temple

Guinsa is the head temple of the Korean Buddhist Cheontae Order, overseeing 140 temples nationwide. It was founded in 1945 and is a unique building constructed with modern concrete in 1966. It is located beneath Yeonhwabong Peak, one of the majestically aligned peaks centered around Gukmangbong Peak of Sobaeksan Mountain. In 1945, Venerable Sangwol Wongak personally wove kudzu vines to build a small hermitage here, and after diligent practice, he achieved great enlightenment and founded Guinsa Temple. Guinsa is a grand temple with modern buildings, boasting a total architectural area of 15,014㎡. Within the temple grounds, over 50 buildings such as the 5-story Main Dharma Hall, Sambodang, Seolseondang, Chongmuwon, Ingwangdang, Jangmunsil, Hyangjeokdang, and Dohyangdang fill the precinct. It also has modern facilities that can accommodate over 10,000 people for meals. When visiting Guinsa, two attractions should not be missed: the Main Dharma Hall, which is the largest in Korea, and the Dharma Stele. The Main Dharma Hall is a 5-story building completed on April 29, 1980, and is the largest Dharma Hall in Korea. The 5-story Main Dharma Hall stands on the very spot where Great Master Sangwol Wongak first founded Guinsa by weaving a small hermitage and practiced. This super-large Main Dharma Hall, capable of accommodating over 5,000 people, was built by Great Master Namdaechung in accordance with the will of the Great Master during his lifetime, combining traditional styles with modern construction methods. The Dharma Stele of Great Master Sangwol Wongak is a stele on which are engraved the Dharma teachings preached by Great Master Sangwol Wongak. These teachings are a concise and clear summary of all the Dharma sermons he taught to his disciples throughout his life. Within these Dharma teachings, all the truths of the Buddha's 84,000 Dharma Gates are included, containing the broad and subtle principles of Buddhism. Guinsa also offers temple stays with various programs, ranging from day-trip to overnight, including interesting experiences like "looking into oneself," making Buddhist prayer beads, and lotus lanterns.