Guknyeongsa Temple

This description was machine-translated from the Korea Tourism Organization's Korean original.

Gukhyeongsa Temple, located in Haenggu-dong, Wonju-si, is a branch temple of Woljeongsa, the head temple of the 4th District of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism. It was founded by the great monk Muchak during the reign of King Gyeongsun of Silla. Its original name was Bomunam, but the pronunciation shifted through bang-eo and it came to be called Gomunam (古文庵). King Taejo Yi Seong-gye of Joseon enshrined the Dongaksinn (東岳神) here, built an altar, and offered rites every year praying for the peace and abundance of the nation, so it was called Gukhyangsa. According to another account, when Princess Huihui, the second daughter of King Jeongjong of Joseon, recovered after a hundred-day prayer at this temple, Jeongjong was so pleased that he greatly expanded the temple grounds and also changed the temple’s name to Gukhyeongsa. It was later abandoned in 1680 and was renovated in 1907, 1945, and 1974. Existing temple buildings include the Daeungjeon, Sugwangjeon, Dongakdan, Bell Pavilion, monks’ hall, and others, and among its cultural properties is the stupa (浮屠) of Jinamdang Daeseonsa (晉庵堂大禪師), erected in 1799.