1. Preface
CNN, one of typical America news media has appointed 33 temples in Korea as a beautiful one which are spreaded in nationwide except Jeju Province There are total 33 temples on the list as one temple in Seoul City, one in Kyeonggi Province three in Kangwondo Province, three in Chungcheong Province sixteen in Jeolra Province and nine in Kyeongsang Province. Please see more details at the attached table herein.
2. Cheonchuksa Temple
I took a decision to start to visit nearest temples in Seoul City as Cheonchuksa Temple. This temple is an annexe and small temple belongs to the Jeokyesa Temple, one of major Buddhisam Parish in Korea which was built by Uisang Monk at northeast at Manjangbong Peak in the Koryeo Dynasty and in year 673 who was cultivating himself morally and religiously and called as Buddhist Hermitage of Okcheonam Temple at that time. Thereafter the King Myeongjong in Koryeo Dynasty was built Yeongkuksa Temple and announced the Okcheonam Temple was a annex to the Yeongkuksa Temple.
The King Taejo in Choseon Dynasty was dropping by this temple on the way back from the trip to Hamheung Province and reminded he was prayed at this temple before and ordered heavily rebuited and changed temple name as Cheonchuksa Temple since landscape around the Manjanbong Peak looks like Yeong Chuk Mountain in Cheonchuk Country, presently in China.
3. Visit to the Cheonchuksa Temple
Dobongsan Mountain, located in the northeastern section of Bukhansan National Park, is known for the magnificent rock formations of the main peak, Jaunbong Peak (740.2 m), as well as Manjangbong Peak, Seoninbong Peak, Jubong Peak, Obong Peaks and Uiam Rock. Seoninbong Peak in particular has 37 hiking courses, including the famous Bakjwi (Bat) Course.4. Visit to the Cheonchuksa Temple
4-1) Date and Time : March 28, 2025. 11:00 ~ 16:00 (5 hours for round hike) including several times break and lunch on the way. I am well senior who took longer hiking time than young personna who takes normally 3 hours for round trip.
4-2) Course Introduction
It is to strat to hike from the Dobongsan Subway Station and dropped by the Dobong Information Center as see at photo and visiting route map attached hereto. Distance is 6.4 km for round trip
4-3 Visiting Story
I took a decision to use public trnasportation, subway which looks more convinient. I arrived at Dobongsan Station in Subway Line No. 1 at 11:00 hours in the morning and moved to the first reference point, Dobongsan Information Center which took about 20 minutes from the station. Please refer to relevant photo attached herein.
It would take about 3 minuts to the fist road sign from the Information Center. You could find at the road sign as 2 km to the Cheonchuka Temple and Gangnunsa Temple at 200m from this road sign.
I vigorously started to hike and soon find beautiful yellow cornus flowers just starting blossoming at the short break area on the way up. This flower is in Korea usually classified as a messanger for spring starting. When I hiked up about 3 minuts more, I found an other spring messanger on the road as yellow forsythia and white magnolia as see at attached photo herein.
I continously walked up and found crystal pransparent vally water steaming down from higher Dongsan Mountain. You could see this scenery more realistically at phto and video attached.
I walked up about one hour through somewhat easy walking road and met threeway junction between stone paved road at left and somewhat easy walking and stair road at right, shortcut but really hard course. I choosed the shortcut course bearing in mind hard to hike to the Cheonchuksa Tample about 1 km form the junction. I remembered so many sharp inclined stone stairs and many times break for recovery, I could see daring landscape in front, Seoninbong Peak. You could find nice view at attached photos after about one hour struggling with these hard stairs. I took a longer break at this place.
When I continusly walked up about half an hour more, I found Dobong Mountain Cabin, break place and road sign there to the Cheonchuksa Temple, 300m. I went up about 20 minuts furthe from the road sign and finally touched the main gate of the Cheonchuksa Temple. Please refer to the attached photo. I carried on about 5 minuts more and hardly met the Cheonchuksa Temple Sing Board where many small Buddha standing behind as you refer to the relevant photo attached.
I eventually faced there a marvelouse Seonin Bong Peak and Cheonchuksa Main Hall which has a so cloreful and beautiful painting. This scenery is a highlight and main reason why I decided to hike this temple. i returned to the Dobongsa Station thrugh the same route as way up and which took about one and half an hour.
