Goryeo
Sungnimsa Temple (Iksan)
495-57 Baekje-ro, Ungpo-myeon, Iksan-si, Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province
Open in mapAbout this place
Sungnimsa Temple is a branch temple of Geumsansa, the head temple of the 17th District of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism. It is said to have been founded by Jinpyo during the reign of King Gyeongdeok of Silla. According to one account, it was founded in 1345 (the 1st year of King Chunmok of Goryeo). The temple name is said to derive from combining 'Sung' from Songshan (the mountain where Bodhidharma meditated for nine years facing a wall in Shaolinsi) and 'Nim' from Shaolin, to honor Bodhidharma's nine years of wall-gazing meditation. The temple holds many National Treasures and Jeollabuk-do Tangible Cultural Heritages.