Cheonhwangsa Temple (Jinan)

About this place

Cheonhwangsa is a temple on Gubongsan Mountain in Gallyong-ri, Jeongcheon-myeon, Jinan-gun, Jeollabuk-do, and is a sub-temple of Geumsansa. It was founded in 875 during the reign of King Heongang of Silla by National Monk Muyeom, and rebuilt in 1065 by National Teacher Uicheon (Daegak). Originally this Cheonhwangsa was located in Jucheon-myeon, Unbong-ri, but was moved to its current location during a reconstruction under King Sukjong. The existing buildings include the Daeungjeon (main hall), Myeongbujeon, Seolseondang, and residential quarters. The Daeungjeon, Jeollabuk-do Tangible Cultural Heritage No. 17, is a very large building exceeding 120 m², with a three-bay-by-two-bay gabled roof. Inside it enshrines a triad of Shakyamuni Buddhas, and the walls are adorned with mural paintings of arhat (disciples) and boy attendants. Other relics include three stupas passed down at the temple: the stupa of Myeongbong, who lifelong lectured the Diamond Sutra, and the stupa of Aeun (Jeollabuk-do Cultural Heritage Data No. 123, 170 cm tall), located about 150 m up the mountain from the main hall. Beside Aeun's stupa is another stupa 213 cm tall. In 1995, a Silla-era roof tile bearing the inscription 'Sajasa' (Lion Temple) was excavated here.