01 · Royalty Route

Jeondeungsa Temple

Jeondeungsa Temple in Ganghwa, a temple that has protected the island for 1,600 years

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Planning the visit

Jeondeungsa Temple is stop 7 of 9 on the Royalty Route.

The stamp is in front of the Ticket Office near the south gate of Jeondeungsa Temple, so you pass it on the way in.

Admission is charged: Adults KRW 4,000 / Teenagers KRW 3,000 / Children KRW 1,500.

The two closest stamp points are Dolmen Sites, 16 km away, and Jangneung Royal Tomb at 20 km. All three fit into one day.

Details

Address

37-41, Jeondeungsa-ro, Ganghwa-gun, Incheon

Stamp zone

In front of the Ticket Office near the south gate of Jeondeungsa Temple

Hours

Summer: 08:00 ~ 18:30 Winter: 08:30 ~ 18:00

Admission

Adults KRW 4,000 / Teenagers KRW 3,000 / Children KRW 1,500

Phone

032-937-0125

Website

www.jeondeungsa.org

Coordinates

37.63261, 126.49165

What the campaign says about it

In Ganghwado, you will find a couple of very special places with direct ties to Dangun. One is Manisan Mountain, and the other is Ganghwa Samrangseong Fortress. Samrangseong Fortress, which is said to have been built by the three sons of Dangun, is also called Jeongjoksanseong Fortress. It served as a stronghold protecting the outskirts of Gaegyeong, the capital of Goryeo, and Hanyang, the capital of Joseon. Jeondeungsa Temple, located inside the walls of Samrangseong Fortress, is the best-known temple of Ganghwado, and records say that it was built by Ado Hwasang in 381 CE (11th year of King Sosurim). Originally, the Temple was named Jinjongsa. However, during the Goryeo Dynasty, it was renamed Jeondeungsa, meaning “to deliver Buddhist enlightenment.” Unfortunately, the Temple did suffer several fires. At one point in its history, Jeondeungsa was completely burned to the ground, but it was fully restored in 1625 CE (3rd year of King Injo). Although the Joseon Dynasty was largely anti-Buddhism, Jeondeungsa Temple was an exception - it was protected by the royal family. Inside Jeongjoksanseong Fortress, there used to be an archive that kept the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty (natural treasure and UNESCO Memory of the World). In other words, Jeondeungsa Temple functioned as a guardian temple that protected the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty. In 1871 CE (8th year of King Gojong), which was the final year of the Joseon Dynasty, a warehouse was built to store weapons and food, and the following year, 50 soldiers were stationed to protect the Temple. Jeondeungsa Temple, which boasts a long history dating back to the Three Kingdoms period, has a number of valuable cultural assets. Examples include the Daeungjeon Hall (treasure), which is known for its elegant curves and splendid decorations, the Jeondeungsa Jeonjong Bell (treasure), and the Wooden Seated Sakyamuni Buddha Triad, famous for its excellent craftsmanship. To the west of Jeondeungsa Temple is the Incheon Metropolitan City Monument for the Jeongjoksansago Site, where the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty were kept. Samrangseong Fortress in Ganghwado - According to legend, the three sons of Dangun built the Fortress, which is why it was named Samrangseong. In 1660 CE (1st year of King Hyeonjong), the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty, which had been stored at an archive on Manisan Mountain, were moved to Jeongjoksansasa Temple inside the Fortress, and Seonwonbogak was built to safe keep the documents. Both, however, have been lost to history, and only Jeondeungsa Temple remains. Annals of the Joseon Dynasty at the Jeongjoksansago Archives The Annals of the Joseon Dynasty are a series of records that spans a period of 472 years (1392~1863 CE) from King Taejo to King Cheoljong (25th monarch of Joseon). Historical events were written and arranged in chronological order. The Jeongjoksansago Archive copy stored in the Gyujanggak is a vast collection with 1,187 books. Daeungjeon Hall of Jeondeungsa Temple The Daeungjeon Hall, which enshrines the Sakyamuni Buddha Triad, is said to have been built in 1621 CE (13th year of Gwanghaegun). On the upper part of the pillars propping up the four corners, a human figure has been carved in. Legend has it that a naked figure was sculpted into the pillars to warn an old lady of her wrongdoing, who stole from the carpenter who was tasked with building the Temple. Cheoljong Bell of Jeondeungsa Temple The Cheoljong Bell at Jeondeungsa Temple is a steel bell brought from China during the final years of the Japanese colonial rule of Korea. When Korea won its independence, it was discovered at the military base in Bupyeong and moved to Jeondeungsa Temple, where it has been kept ever since. The bell has the typical features of a Buddhist bell made in China, and has clear differences from Korean bells. Wooden Seated Sakyamuni Buddha Triad of Jeondeungsa Temple This Buddha Triad was made in 1623 CE by Suyeon, who served the Buddhist community in the Jeollabuk-do and Chungcheongnam-do region during the first half of the 17th century. It is a manifestation of the Buddha Triad, which ware popular nationwide in the late Joseon Dynasty period. Ganghwa Jeongjoksansago Site is located to the west of Jeondeungsa Temple inside Jeongjoksanseong Fortress. Inside the Fortress, Jeondeungsa Temple had protected the Sago archives as its guardian temple. It kept the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty and other records safe until they were moved in 1910 when the Academic Affairs Division of the Japanese Government-General of Korea was created.

Quoted from the Visit Korean Heritage Campaign.

Getting there

Get off at Dangsan Station on subway line no. 2 → Take bus no. 7000 at the Dangsan station bus stop → Get off at the Solteo Village entrance bus stop, then transfer to bus no. 70 → Get off at Jeondeungsa Temple Nammun Gate bus stop → Walk for 13 minutes

Photographs

Photographs supplied by the Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation.