-
Wongaksa Temple – 원각사 (Dong-gu, Gwangju)
Temple History Wongaksa Temple is located in Dong-gu, Gwangju in the eastern part of the city. Wongaksa Temple was first founded in April, 1914 by the monk Geumbong Girim, who was from Seonamsa Temple. Wongaksa Temple was founded as a propagation centre in Gwangju for Seonamsa Temple. In the fall of 1939, the temple was renovated and expanded. In 1944, Kim Yeong-su, who was then the abbot of Seonamsa Temple, erected a monument entitled “Song-eun Yi Gong Gyu-seok and Park Shi Daedeokhwa Devotion Memorial Monument,” which was to commemorate the founding and history of Wongaksa Temple. For unknown reasons, and on December 19th, 1973, the temple was registered under the…
-
Jeungsimsa Temple – 증심사 (Dong-gu, Gwangju)
Temple History Jeungsimsa Temple is located in Dong-gu, Gwangju in the western foothills of Mt. Mudeungsan (1,186.8 m). In fact, Jeungsimsa Temple is located in the western portion of Mudeungsan National Park. Jeungsimsa temple was first founded by the monk Cheolgam-seonsa (798-868 A.D.) in 860 A.D. However, there is some dispute as to when the temple was first founded. According to the “Gwangju Eupji – 광주읍지,” which was published in 1924, the temple was first founded in 517 A.D. by a Chinese monk named Cheolgam from the Liang Dynasty (502-519 A.D.). According to the “Gwangju Gunsa – 광주군사,” on the other hand, which was published in 1934, the temple was…
-
Geumseonsa Temple – 금선사 (Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju)
Temple History Geumseonsa Temple is located in western Gwangju inside Seongjong Park. Formerly, Geumseonsa Temple was Songjeong Shrine, which was a Japanese Shinto shrine. As part of the Japanese Colonial Rule (1910-45) policy, Shinto shrines were established throughout the Korean Peninsula, and visiting these shrines was enforced. This was all part of an effort to make Koreans loyal subjects of the Japanese Emperor. Geumseonsa Temple, which was formerly Songjeong Shrine, is the only remaining Japanese Shinto shrine in Korea. Originally, the Songjeong Shrine was the site of the Shimmei Shrine, which was established on November 25th, 1922 (Taisho 11). On August 28th, 1940 (Showa 15), Otsuka Yohei and fifty-three other…