BONGEUNSA TEMPLE
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One of Seoul's inner-city temples, once the center of Korean Zen Buddhism, containing relics of the historical Buddha.
This temple, founded in 794 by the national priest Yeon-heui, under the reign of King Won-Seong of Silla, was rebuilt in 1498 and then moved to the present site in 1562 (it was first located near the Seongjongneung tomb, not far from there). Destroyed again in 1592 and 1637, then rebuilt the same year, then restored in 1692, 1912, 1941, 1981... In short, there is not much left of the original. However, this place is interesting for several reasons: first, because it is one of the few temples inside Seoul (the monarchs of Joseon had banned them), and second, because it was the centre of Korean Zen Buddhism (Seon). The 2 most prominent Korean monks of Joseon, Seosan and Sa-myeong, studied there before raising an army of monks to fight against the Japanese during the invasion of 1592. Relics of the historic Buddha (Çakyamuni), brought back from Sri Lanka in 1975, were placed in the three-storey stupa in front of the main hall. Not far away is a bell melted at the beginning of the 18th century. The temple also has a 23 m high granite statue of Mireuk, the highest in Korea. It is also here that the Jogye Order undertook the translation into modern Korean of the Tripitaka Koreana (Buddhist canon), the originals of which are kept in the temple of Haeïnsa. You should visit the place on Buddha's birthday (early May): hundreds of pilgrims come to light lanterns. Also noteworthy are the small houses built in traditional style almost buried at the foot of the temple.
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