Life is a different Wave moving by Time and ending at Shore: Best 8 Temple Stay near to Seoul

Templestay is a unique cultural program which lets you experience the life of Buddhist practitioners at traditional temples which preserved the 1700 year old history of Korean Buddhism.

Finding your 'True-self'

Templestay is a cultural experience program for a better understanding of Korean traditional culture and Korean Buddhism. This short Templestay including chanting, meditation, and conversation over tea, Buddhist meals will give you a new perspective on your life. We hope you find your ‘True-self’ while staying at a temple.

1. Jogyesa Temple : Relation with Times at Capital City in Seoul

They are first landmark of Korean Buddhism temple as well as on spot site which we have been with us for modern turbulence history. There are nearby historical places like General of the Buddhist Joava Order of Korea, Korea Buddhist History and Culture Memorial Hall and Woojeong Cheongguk, first post office in Korea. If you move some more, you could find conveniently other historical places like Gyeongbokgung Palace and Changdeokgung Palaces as well as Green House, Korea National Present House and Insa-Dong where you could find many different kinds of antique, decoration, old paint and so on. Therefore many foreign visitors like to pay a visit to this temple.

This temple has not been long history but recently built in 1910 for protection of Korea traditional Buddhism during the period of Japan’s governing the Korea under as original temple name as Gakhwangsa. It was main reason why they constructed this temple for protecting Korea traditional Buddhism from general atmosphere affecting Japanese Buddhism affection to Korea Buddhism. They changed its name to Taegosa Temple in 1937 for the memory of Taego, national master monk who was remarkably boosting Korea Buddhism. After that, they changed its name again through Buddhism purification process in 1957 as present name as Jogyesa Temple

l Location : #55, Ujeongguk Ro, Jongro Gu, Seoul, Korea

l Web Site : http://www.jogyesa.kr/user/english/

2. Bongeunsa Temple: Walking Thousand Year Old Forest at Gangnam in Seoul.

This temple is the biggest and old one at Southern area in Seoul below Han River positioning at expensive land in Gangnam District. This temple was built in 794 during King of Wonseong in Shilla dynasty as original name as Kyeonseongsa Temple. But this temple was later nominated for taking care of King of Seongjong Tomb during Yeosangun Governor and chaging its name as Bongeunsa which means “Honor to King of Seongjong”. It is also well known temple as Bowu, National monk greatly raising Buddhism during Joseon Dynasty.

Mireunkjeon, annex hall and Daeungjeon, main hall are situating with green forest at middle of high building forest in Gangnam district as oasis at desert. There is temple forest walking road behind the main hall which is about 1 km distance and always loved with visitors.

l Location : Traditional Culture Center, Bongeunsa-Ro 531(Samsung-Dong 73), Gangnam-Gu, Seoul, Korea

l Web Site : http://temple.bongeunsa.org/public_html_en/index.asp

3. Jinkwansa Temple : Raising Happiness Seed at Mind Garden

There are reputed and well-known four temples at Samgaksan Mountain ( Bukhansan Mountain) which are, Bulamsa Temple at East, Sammaksa Temple at South, Seunggasa Temple at North and Jinkwansa Temple at West. There are some stories relating with Jinkwansa temple. But following story is commonly accepted and understood as the Shinheosa temple was originally built there at the Jinkwansa location which was later renovated by King of Hyeonjong for his memorial to Jinkwan Monk who saved his life and changed its temple name as present Jinkwansa temple. Most Kings at Joseon Dynasty paid a visit to this temple and prayed for “Water and Land Memorial” taking care of lonely wondering soul and devil at land and water like sea or river. This tradition has been maintaining at present and nominated as National Intangible Cultural Property.

l Location : # 73, Jinkwangil, Eunpyeong Gu, Seoul, Korea

l Web Site : http://jinkwansa.templestay.com/index.asp?t_id=jks1080 Unfortunately no English service. Please send message to jintem@daum.net

4. Hwagyesa Temple : Trying to Lead Korea Buddhism to Global.

This temple is located at below address which was originally trying to make globalizing Korea Buddhism to world. The Soongsan Monk, hornor to people as worldwide live Buddha was constructing Kukje Seonwon, educating Zen meditation hall to international. The Hwagyesa Temple has been constructed at present optimum position in 1522 where we could look around so fantastic view of Baeundae Peak, Mankyeongbong Peak and Dongjangdae Peak just like beautiful picture screen.

l Location : # 117, Hwagyesa-gil, Gangbuk-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea

l Web Site : http://www.hwagyesa.org/bbs/content.php?co_id=7010

5. Gilsagnsa Temple : Where You Could Meet “Nonpossession” by Reputed Boepjeung Monk as well as Poet and Love by Baeseok Poet.

The Gilsagnsa temple is quietly located somewhere middle of luxurious house forest at Seongbuk Dong which was originated from Daewongak ( high class Korean Style Restaurant) and later renovated to the temple. It was behind story that Kim, Yeonghwan, Buddhism name as Gilsanghwa expressed to her lover, Baeseok Poet she would like to donate Daewongak to Boepjeung Monk in 1987. Boepjeung later renovated it to present Gilsagnsa temple as Seoul citizen’s loving and keeping master monk arranging Buddhism speech at the temple. He passed away at the Gilsagnsa and left his will “Please not prepare coffin and take one single Buddhist cloth and burn my body after die”. The monks strictly follow his will and burn his body at Songgwangsa Temple. He has been speaking nonpossession concept to the people even after die. They have been normally opening temple stay at every 4^th week at the month and accepted people application subject to 108 bow condition as Buddhism. But they will not open temple stay in case any temple event or program schedule.

l Location : # 323, Seongbuk 2 Dong, Seongbuk Gu, Seoul, Korea

l Web Site : http://kilsangsa.info/aaa_eng/home/default_in.asp

6. Heungguksa Temple : Relation Opportunity to Young Couple

Heungguksa temple has been constructed by Wonhyo Monk in 661 during Shilla Dynasty which is situating at Nogosan Mountain facing to Bukhansan Mountain. This temple is officially located at Goyang City in Kyeonggi Province but more closer to Seoul City.

Wonhyo had drilled himself at Wonhyo hermitage in Bukhansan Mountain and one day walked on the mountain guiding by unknown holly force and came across the Yaksayeoraebul (Medicine Buddha Dharani) on the way and built Heungseongam Hermitage at that place. Thereafter King of Youngjo has later changed its name to Heungguksa Temple for the revival of national force with Yaksayeoraebul almighty force. You could see several major mountain peaks at the Bukhansan Mountain as so close as handy touch under fine weather and good visibility condition like Iensubong Peak, Baekundae Peak, Mangkyeongdae Peak, Wonhyeobong Peak, Nojeokbong Peak, Bohyeonbong Peak and Nahanbong Peak. They are all rocky peaks which are as beautiful as revealing virgin’s white skin. The temple recently opened new forest walking course which you could absorb in meditation thought during the walking and also special meeting arrangement for young couples during temple stay which lucky couple may get a chance to take relation opportunity.

l Location : # 323, Seongbuk 2 Dong, Seongbuk Gu, Seoul, Korea

l Web Site : http://heungguksa.templestay.com/index.asp?t_id=heungguksa Unfortunately no English service. Please send message to heungguksa@templestay.com

7. Yongmunsa Temple : More than 1100 years Old Gingko Tree Story and Poor Yangpyung Resistance Story to Japanese Invasion

Yongmunsa Temple has been constructed by Daekyeong, National Monk in 913. They are very famous of very old and the biggest gingko tree at far East Asia, 1100 years old and 62 m high and 14m round. It is known that King of Kyeonsun at Shilla Dynasty came over to this temple and planted this Gingko tree which is presently registered as National Natural Monument No. 30. When you just pass the Iljumum (temple main gate), you would see densely lined up Geumgang pine trees, traditional pine trees which is upgrading quaint beauty.

Yangpyung Resistance was naturally formed when Korea lost their country to Japanese intruders who were using Yongmunsa Temple as their Resistance base during Japanese governing period. Japanese withdrew Korea King down from his chair and dispersed Korea army in force and actually intended to take over Korea Government. Yangpyung Resistance was mainly acting their resistance works through Yongmunsa Temple, Sangwonsa Temple and Sanasa Temple. The Temple has been operating experience meditation program under this old Gingko tree.

l Location : # 782, Yongmunsan Ro, Yongmun Myeon, Yangpyeong Gun, Gyeonggi Province, Korea

l Web Site : http://heungguksa.templestay.com/index.asp?t_id=heungguksa Unfortunately no English service. Please send message to yongmunsa5797@daum.net

8. Bongsunsa Temple : Good Opportunity Reviewing Personal Story through Meditation Walking at Gwangneung (Royal Tomb)

Bongsunsa Temple was originally constructed by Beopin, national monk in 969 during King Gwangjong in Koryeo Dynasty under name of Unaksa Temple. Queen of Jeonghee renovated this temple bigger for the memory of King of Sejo as big as 89 Kan (spacious) and changed its name to present name as Bongsunsa. It was story Taeheo monk, independence activist and Unheo Monk, leader for active Korean word were stayed one time before. There are all Korean at all temple hall in relation with Unheo monk insist.

Many old and big zelkova trees and some cultural heritages are at the temple like Bongsunsa Great Bell, national treasure No. 397. There is special program which visitors could take experiment making lotus rice which individuals is going to use lotus collecting at lotus field at the temple. other programs like circulating Daeungjeon (temple main hall) or walking Gwangneung Forest under program name as “Walking on the Secret Forest” which is the biggest forest walking course in Korea and exclusively only for Bongsunsa Temple program

l Location : # 32, Bongseonsa Gil, Jinjeop Eup, Namyangju City, Gyeonggi Province, Korea

l Web Site : http://www.bongsunsatemplestay.com/main. Unfortunately no English service. Please send message to bongsunsa@templestay.com