Korea's Chondungsa Temple

Korea's Chondungsa Temple

Chondungsa Temple is located on Ganghwa Island in Ganghwa County, Incheon Metropolitan City, South Korea. It is a temple that has witnessed the historical tragedies from the ancient Gojoseon era to the modern period. It is said that in the 11th year of King Sosurim of Goguryeo (372 AD), the monk Ado founded the temple under the name Jinjongsa, but there is no definitive evidence to support this. It was from that time onward that the temple served as a protectorate temple, bearing witness to the nation’s painful history. Later, in the 8th year of King Chungnyeol of Goryeo (1282), the monk Ingi brought the Tripitaka Koreana back from the Song Dynasty and stored it at this temple. The queen consort of King Chungnyeol, Queen Jeonghwa, donated a jade lantern to the temple, which is how Chondungsa got its name.

The most famous features inside Chondungsa Temple are the names carved on the pillars of the Daeungjeon (Main Buddha Hall) and the naked female figures. It is said that, during the resistance against the French invasion, soldiers pledged to defend their country with their lives. To seek the Buddha’s blessing for victory, they carved their names on the pillars and walls of the Daeungjeon. Even today, traces of those inscriptions can still be seen.

As for the naked woman figure, it is said that a craftsman involved in constructing the Daeungjeon fell in love with a beautiful woman from the village while working on the site. The two promised to build a life together after the construction was complete. The craftsman entrusted all his construction funds to the woman for safekeeping, but before the work was finished, she fell for another man and ran away with him. Deeply heartbroken, the craftsman was unable to continue working for a long time. Eventually, he regained his resolve and completed the Daeungjeon. Today, the naked figure of that woman is carved at the top of the four main pillars, holding up the heavy roof.

Jeondeungsa

Must-visit reason: The most historically significant temple in Ganghwa County

Continent where the attraction is located: Asia【Asia】

Country/Region where the attraction is located: Korea[Korea]

Province/State where the attraction is located: Incheon Metropolitan City [Daejeon Metropolitan City]

City where the attraction is located: Ganghwa County [Ganghwa County]