Heungguksa Temple
The establishment of Heungguksa Temple dates back to 661 BC (the 1st year of King Munnu's reign during the Silla Dynasty), which was about 1,300 years ago from now. Wonhyo, who was the most respected Buddhist monk at the time, was meditating in Wonhyoam Hermitage in Bukhansan Mountain when he felt an auspicious energy rising in the northeast. He then descended from the mountain, and arrived at this location where he saw the Stone Bhaisajyaraja, the medicine king. Believing that he was touched by the generosity of connection (inyeondoryang),
Wonhyo enshrined the Bhaisajyaraja in the main temple, and said, “This is a place where auspicious light arose, so it will become home to many saints.” He named the temple Heungseongam, which later became Heungguksa Temple.
Details of the history of the temple are unknown due to a lack of historical materials that can help trace its history. However, there are records of its expansion in 1686 (the 12th year of King Sukjong’s reign during the Joseon Dynasty), and expansion during the reign of King Yeongjo.
In particular, the Amitabha in Mitajeon Temple was gold-plated and repaired (excerpt from Bokjangyeongimun, a scroll about the statue's creation) in 1758 (Year 34 of King Yeongjo). There is also a story of King Yeongjo in 1770 (Year 46 of King Yeongjo) when he visited Sonyeongwon, the cemetery where his biological mother Royal Noble Consort Sukbin Choe was buried. Due to a heavy snow, King Yeongjo was forced to stay one night here and he wrote a poem the next morning (How joyful am I to see the return of the morning. The snow is piled. It is a sign of a good harvest ahead.) He had his five-character poem engraved on the temple, and granted a framed calligraphy saying Yaksajeon as a royal gift. After the Yaksajeon was expanded, it was designated as a royal family temple which was used to pray for the royal family's well-being and national prosperity and peace.
- Address82 Heungguksa-gil, Deogyang-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do
- Contact+82-2-381-7980, +82-10-4451-7980
- Inquiryheungguksa@templestay.com