Myeongbongsa (Yecheon)

About this place

Myeongbongsa is a branch temple of Jikjisa, the head temple of the 8th diocese of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism. It was founded in 875 (1st year of King Heongang) by the monk Duun on a slope of Sobaeksan. After it burned down completely in a fire in 1662 (3rd year of King Hyeonjong), several monks joined forces to rebuild it. When it was destroyed by fire again in 1668, Sinik and others resolved to restore it and, gathering donations for about ten years, carried out a major reconstruction. Destroyed once more during the Korean War, it was rebuilt in 1955 by the abbot Manjun and remains to this day. The temple holds the Stele of the Placenta Chamber of King Munjong, erected in 1735 (11th year of King Yeongjo, a Gyeongsangbuk-do Tangible Cultural Heritage), and the Stele of Buddhist Master Jajeok of Gyeongcheong Seon Monastery, erected in 941 (a national Treasure). On the mountain behind the temple, the placenta chambers of King Munjong and of Crown Prince Sado (Jangjo) have been restored.