Gangcheonsa Temple (Sunchang)

About this place

Gangcheonsa Temple is located 1.8 km from the entrance of Gangcheonsan County Park. It was founded in the first year of Queen Jinseong of Silla (887) by National Monk Doseon. The temple flourished thereafter: in the third year of King Chungsuk of Goryeo (1316), Venerable Deokryeon rebuilt the temple and erected a five-story stone pagoda; at its peak it had twelve sub-hermitages and over one thousand resident monks. However, during the Imjin War everything was destroyed except the stone pagoda. In the 37th year of King Seonjo (1604), Venerable Soyo rebuilt the temple, but it was again destroyed during the Korean War and restored in its original form in 1959. Surrounding cultural assets include shrines in Chungin-ri and Namgye-ri, stone guardian posts (jangseung), Sunchang Guest Hall, and a three-story stone pagoda in Sunhwa-ri. Nearby scenic attractions include Geumseong Mountain Fortress, Yongso Waterfall, Gangcheon Lake, Damyang Lake, Chuwolsan, Huimunsan, and Naejangsan National Park.