Gyeongguksa Temple (Seoul)

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

Gyeongguksa Temple was founded in 1325 by Vinaya Master Jajeong; it is said to have been called Cheongamsa because it lay below Cheongbong Peak of Bukhansan (Samgaksan). The founding abbot, Vinaya Master Jajeong, was not only thoroughly versed in the Vinaya but also deeply accomplished in the Lotus (Fahua) and Consciousness-Only (Yogacara) teachings, and the temple upheld the Vinaya, the Lotus Sutra, and Avalokitesvara faith. In 1349 National Preceptor Taego Bou went to China, received the Dharma from Master Shiwu Qinggong, returned, and at Gyeongguksa, at the request of King Gongmin, was bestowed a gold-embroidered kasaya and a staff (jujangja) and became National Preceptor. In 1545, during the reign of King Myeongjong, Queen Munjeong, the king's mother, carried out Buddhist works and renamed it Gyeongguksa in the sense of praying that the nation's auspicious fortune would not be cut off. Thereafter in 1698 Master Yeonhwa Seungseong renovated the temple and built Cheontaeseongjeon. Cheontaeseongjeon is a hall enshrining Dokseong, and the Cheontaeseongjeon Sangnyangmun recorded at that time is still transmitted. There is also an anecdote that former President Syngman Rhee, moved by the character of Master Bogyeong who resided at Gyeongguksa, paid respects there together with former Vice President Nixon. From 1977 to 1985, Great Master Jigwan (former Director of the Jogye Order Administration), who succeeded Great Monk Bogyeong Geumeo as abbot, transformed Gyeongguksa into its present appearance, and in 2005 the Gyju Wonmyeong Saritap of Great Vinaya Master Jaun, who dedicated himself to promoting the Vinaya tradition of Korean Buddhism, was also erected here.