Naksansa Temple

Naksansa Temple in Yangyang, a thousand-year-old temple with magnificent scenery

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Planning the visit

Naksansa Temple is stop 5 of 6 on the Gwandong Pungryu Era Route.

You will find the stamp at the Eunghyanggak at Naksansa Temple.

Admission is charged: Adults KRW 4,000 / Teenagers, Soldiers KRW 1,500 / Children KRW 1,000.

The nearest other stamp point is Sinheungsa Temple, 14 km away.

Details

Address: 100, Naksansa-ro, Ganghyeon-myeon, Yangyang-gun, Gangwon-do
Stamp zone: Eunghyanggak at Naksansa Temple
Hours: 06:00 - 18:00, daily
Admission: Adults KRW 4,000 / Teenagers, Soldiers KRW 1,500 / Children KRW 1,000
Phone: 033-672-2447
Website: www.naksansa.or.kr
Coordinates: 38.12111, 128.62582

What the campaign says about it

Naksansa Temple sits near the foothills of Obongsan Mountain, one of the three most famous mountains in the Gwandong region along with Geumgangsan Mountain and Seoraksan Mountain. The Temple’s name comes from “Botanakgasan,” which is the place where Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara (Gwaneum) stayed and gave sermons. Naksansa Temple is also one of the three major Avalokitesvara temples and one of the “Eight Scenic Views of the Gwandong Region.” The Temple was originally built in 671 (11th year of King Munmu) by Uisang, a Buddhist monk from Silla. Later on, it was rebuilt on multiple occasions, including in 858 (2nd year of King Heonan). During the Korean War, the Temple suffered irreparable damage, and was rebuilt completely in 1953. Naksansa Temple offers a panoramic view of the East Sea, and it has an extensive collection of Buddhist cultural artifacts, including the “Gongjung Saritap” containing the genuine sarira of Buddha, “Geonchilgwaneumbosal Jwasang,” “Seven-story Seoktap,” “Haesu Gwaneumsang,” and “Chilgwaneumsang,” as well as Botajeon that enshrines each Gwaneumsang statue or sculpture. The Temple also has the “Uisang Museum” with belongings used by Uisang who built the Temple. With its thousand-year-long history and legacy, Naksansa Temple remains a sacred site for Buddhists to this day. Naksansa Gongjung Saritap This stupa is a new design that diverges from previous Buddhist stupas. In terms of style and details, it shares many similarities with the Jangmyeongdeung installed at royal tombs during the Joseon Dynasty, and it helps examine the relationship between the stylistic influence of stone sculptures and structures at Buddhist temples and other more atheistic stone structures. Geonchilgwaneumbosal Jwasang - this is a Geonchilbulsang statue enshrined inside Wontongbojeon Hall at Naksansa Temple. Judging from the style and design, the statue seems to be from the early Joseon Dynasty period and heavily influenced by the more traditional style used in the late Goryeo Dynasty period. Seven-story Seoktap Built originally as a three-story stone pagoda when the Temple was built, four more tiers were added in 1467 (13th year of King Sejo), turning the pagoda into the seven-story pagoda that remains to this day. Moreover, according to records, beads made of crystal and a Yeouiju were enshrined inside the pagoda when it was being rebuilt. The pagoda inherited the style used during the Goryeo period, but the overall shape appears more concise and simple.

Quoted from the Visit Korean Heritage Campaign.

Getting there

Take a bus bound for Yangyang at the Seoul Express Bus Terminal → Get off at Yangyang Intercity Bus Terminal and walk to a regular bus stop → Take bus no. 9- 1 at the Intercity Bus Terminal stop → Get off at Naksan bus stop → Walk for 13 minutes

Photographs

Photographs supplied by the Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation.