Gameungsa (Seongju)

About this place

Gameungsa is a temple built in the 3rd year of King Aejang of Silla (reigned 800–808). It is located on the mid-slope of Mount Yeongchwi behind Hangae Village in Seongju, which is designated as a National Folklore Cultural Heritage. A founding legend is handed down regarding the temple's establishment. According to it, the 40th king of Silla, King Aejang, had a prince in his old age, but the prince was born with poor eyes and could not see. All sorts of medicines were tried to no avail, when one day, following the words of a monk who appeared in a dream, they washed the prince's eyes with the spring water at this place where an eagle had flown down and alighted, and the prince was able to see. King Aejang regarded this as the grace of the Buddha and had the monk Chejing build a temple. He also named the mountain on which the temple stands Yeongchwisan, meaning 'the mountain of the divine eagle.' The temple was first named Gameunsa, then later renamed Gameungam and Gameungsa. After its founding, Gameungsa was completely burned down during the Japanese invasions (Imjin War) and was rebuilt in the 2nd year of King Sukjong (1675), and thereafter was also repaired during the reigns of Kings Yeongjo and Jeongjo. The present Buddhist buildings were erected in 1970 by the abbot at the time, the monk Pyeongta, with the help of the congregation. At the lower part of the rock cliff behind the Daeungjeon lies Ongnyujeong, where spring water gushes forth, and many inscriptions are carved into the surrounding cliffs. At the upper part of the spring is carved a relief statue of the Dragon King, and whereas other temples enshrine the Seven-Star deity, Dokseong, and the mountain spirit in the Samseonggak, Gameungsa enshrines the Dragon King deity in place of Dokseong-jonja.