Goseong Temple

Goseongsa Temple is a subordinate temple of Daeheungsa Temple, which is the head temple of the 22nd district of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism. According to the "Cheonbulsan Hwaeomsa Sajokbi" (Monument Recording the History of Cheonbulsan Hwaeomsa Temple), it is recorded that in 1211 (the 7th year of King Huijong's reign during the Goryeo Dynasty), National Preceptor Wonmyo Yose (1163-1245), who led the White Lotus Society, built Goseongsa as a subordinate temple at the same time he rebuilt Baekryeonsa Temple on Manduksan Mountain nearby. In "Beom-u Go" (Studies of Buddhist Temples), compiled in 1799 (the 23rd year of King Jeongjo's reign during the Joseon Dynasty), it is referred to as Goseongam Hermitage. In particular, it is well-known as the place where Jeong Yak-yong (Dasan), who was exiled to Gangjin-gun in the autumn of 1805 (the 5th year of King Sunjo's reign), stayed and befriended Seon Master Hyejang. In 1805, Dasan Jeong Yak-yong moved his chest of books containing research materials for the I Ching to Goseongsa Temple. As for buildings, Daeungjeon (Main Buddha Hall), Chilseonggak (Big Dipper Shrine), and a monk's dormitory remain. Among these, wooden triadic Buddha statues, which appear to have been created in the late Joseon Dynasty, are enshrined in Daeungjeon. As for the main altar paintings (behind the Buddha statues), there are a Yeongsanhwesaengdo (Buddha's Sermon on Vulture Peak), a Jijangtaenghwa (Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva painting), a Gamrotaenghwa (Nectar Ritual painting), and a Sinjungtaenghwa (Guardian Deities painting). The Jijangtaenghwa is the oldest, produced in 1933. In Chilseonggak, four Buddhist paintings are enshrined. One of the wooden triadic Buddha statues of Goseongsa Temple faced a peculiar fate a dozen years ago, almost being sold to Japan.