Cheoneun Temple

Cheoneunsa Temple is located 9km north of Gurye-eup, at the entrance to the Jirisan circumferential road. It was built in the 3rd year of King Heungdeok of Silla (828 AD) by Master Deokun and an Indian monk named 'Suru', who cleared the land. It was known as Hwacheonyangsa and is counted among the three major temples of Jirisan, along with Hwaeomsa Temple. It was destroyed by fire during the Imjin War, then rebuilt by Seonsa Hyejeong in the 2nd year of King Gwanghae of Joseon (1610). However, it burned down again in the 2nd year of King Sukjong (1676), leading to its reconstruction the following year. It suffered another fire in the 49th year of King Yeongjo (1773), and Seonsa Hyeam rebuilt it in the 51st year of King Yeongjo (1775), bringing it to its current state. The original name of Cheoneunsa Temple was Gamnosa Temple, given in 828 when the Indian monk and Master Deokun founded it, because there was a clear, cold spring in the temple grounds, like dew, that made one's clouded mind clear after drinking its water. Many monks flocked to it, with over a thousand residing there at one point, and it was even promoted to the foremost temple in the southern region during the Goryeo period under King Chungnyeol. However, it is said that after it burned down during the Imjin War and was being rebuilt, a large python frequently appeared by the spring. When it was caught and killed, the spring stopped flowing. Thus, the temple was renamed Cheoneunsa in the 4th year of King Sukjong of Joseon (1677), meaning "hidden spring." Strangely, after the name change, unexplained fires became frequent, and misfortunes were incessant. Residents also feared it, believing it was because the python, which protected the temple's water energy, had been killed. Upon hearing this news, Won-gyo Yi Gwang-sa, one of the four great calligraphers of Joseon, wrote "Jirisan Cheoneunsa" in a flowing script and hung it up. After that, fires no longer occurred. Even now, in the quiet hours before dawn, the sound of flowing water is subtly heard from the calligraphy on the Iljumun gate plaque.