Bongseonsa

Bongseonsa (Korean: 봉선사) is a Buddhist temple that serves as the head temple of the 25th parish of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism. It is situated in Bupyeong‑ri, Jinjeop‑eup, Namyangju‑si, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea, a short distance east of Seoul.

History

• Founding (969 CE) – The temple was originally established during the reign of King Gwangjong of Goryeo (20th year of his reign) under the name Unaksa (also recorded as Untigan in some sources).【1†L1-L4】
• Renaming (1469 CE) – In the first year of King Yejong’s reign, Queen Jeonghui (also known as Queen Chung‑hee‑hu) renamed the temple Bongseonsa to commemorate the burial of King Sejo nearby.【1†L5-L7】
• Destruction and Reconstruction – Bongseonsa suffered repeated damage: it was burned during the Imjin War (late 16th century), again during the Manchu invasions of the 17th century, and its structures were largely destroyed in the Korean War (1951). Each time the temple was rebuilt, most recently in 1969 under the guidance of Abbot Unheo (耘虛, 1892‑1980), who also introduced Korean‑language signboards and scriptural plates in the main hall.【1†L8-L13】

Cultural Assets

• Bronze Bell – The temple houses a large early‑Joseon bronze bell, long designated as a Treasure (since 1963) and upgraded to National Treasure status in 2026 by the Korean Heritage Service.【3†L4-L6】
• Main Hall – The Daeungjeon (Great Hall) of Bongseonsa is registered as a cultural heritage property of South Korea.

Architectural Features
The temple complex includes a main hall, a charnel house, a pond, and ancillary facilities such as a café. Notably, the main hall’s signboard, called “Keunbeopdang,” is written entirely in Hangul rather than Classical Chinese, reflecting Abbot Unheo’s effort to make Buddhist teachings accessible to Korean speakers. Copper plates bearing Korean translations of the Avatamsaka Sutra and the Lotus Sutra are displayed on its walls.

Affiliation and Role
As the head temple of the Jogye Order’s 25th parish, Bongseonsa functions as a regional administrative and religious center, overseeing subordinate temples within Gyeonggi Province.

Access
The temple is reachable by local bus routes from Namyangju and is a short drive from Seoul’s eastern suburbs.

References

1. NamuWiki entry on Bongseonsa Temple (2026‑02‑15).
2. “Ancient bronze bell gains national treasure status,” The Korea Times (2026).
3. “Bongseonsa – Wikipedia” (summary retrieved via DuckDuckGo).