Wontongsaji Temple Site

About this place

Wontongsaji is a temple site from the Unified Silla period, located in Jukcheon-ri, Anseong-myeon, Muju-gun. According to the Reconstruction Stele of Wontongsa erected in 1698, the temple was recorded as having been founded during the Silla period, though the exact founding date, the extent of the temple precinct, and its layout are unknown. The stele inscription records that during the reign of King Sukjong of Joseon, the monks Taneon, Doyeong, Hyeok, and Ilhak carried out a major rebuilding project — reconstructing the main hall and bell pavilion and casting a new bronze bell. An earlier record from the Sinjeung Dongguk Yeoji Seungnam (1530) notes that Wontongsa existed on Deogyu Mountain, confirming the temple's existence in the early 16th century. Wontongsa later served as a base for independence fighters — including righteous army commanders Kim Dong-sin, Mun Tae-seo, Sin Myeong-seon, and Bak Chun-sil — following the signing of the Eulsa Treaty in 1905. It was completely burned down as a consequence of the Yeosu-Suncheon Uprising in 1949 and was not rebuilt due to the ensuing Korean War. A present-day temple now occupies the site. Although the original appearance of the temple is unknown, the Joseon-period Reconstruction Stele records the founding and rebuilding history, making it a valuable source for understanding the Buddhist culture of Muju-gun.