Goun Temple孤雲寺

Gounsa Temple was founded by Uisang Daesa in 681. At the time of its founding, it was called Gounsa (高雲寺), but about 200 years later, when Goun Choi Chi-won practiced asceticism here and built Gaunru and Uhwaru, it was renamed Gounsa (孤雲寺) after his pen name. Subsequently, during the Joseon Dynasty, it underwent several renovations. Gounsa Temple served as a frontline base for the monk army during the Imjin War, where Master Samyeong stockpiled food and cared for wounded soldiers, and during the Japanese colonial period, it was one of the nation's 3.1 movement headquarters, where patriotic Buddhism flourished. Within the temple grounds are buildings such as Daeungjeon, Geuknakjeon, Gwanamjeon, Geumgangmun, Uhwaru, and Gogumdang. Important cultural assets housed here include the Seokjo Yeoraejwasang (Stone Seated Buddha) of Uiseong Gounsa, the Three-story Stone Pagoda of Gounsa, Gaunru of Gounsa, and Yeonsujeon of Uiseong Gounsa. Gounsa Temple's experience programs include Templestay and temple food experience. For Templestay, there's the "Dugeun Dugeun Templestay," a free program aimed at healing the hardships and stress of students preparing for exams; the "Youth Healing Camp" for university students; and the "Mind Forest Path," which offers relaxation through programs like Buddhist chanting, tea talks with monks, and walking meditation. The temple food experience takes place at the Gounsa Temple Food Experience Center, where participants can learn to make temple food under the guidance of a monk who has faithfully inherited its cooking methods. The temple food experience programs consist of the Temple Class, Basic Class, Short-term Class, Fermented Food Experience Class, and One-day Experience Class.