Jeokcheonsa Temple (Cheongdo)

About this place

Jeokcheonsa belongs to the 9th district of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism (headquartered at Donghwasa) and traces its origins to 664 (the 4th year of King Munmu of Silla), when the Venerable Wonhyo built a hermitage here for ascetic practice. It was reconstructed by Master Simji in 828 (the 3rd year of Heungdeok of Unified Silla), and has been rebuilt multiple times after fires. The Main Hall (Daeungjeon), a Gyeongsangbuk-do Tangible Cultural Heritage, is a three-bay-by-three-bay building with a gabled roof. The bracketing (gongpo) is in the multi-bracket (dapo) style. Although built in the late Joseon period, it partially retains early Joseon architectural techniques. The temple grounds also contain an 800-year-old ginkgo tree designated as a Natural Monument, standing 25.5 m tall with a trunk circumference of 8.7 m. Tradition holds that National Teacher Bojo planted this ginkgo walking stick in 1175 (the 5th year of Goryeo King Myeongjong) when he rebuilt the temple.