Seongdeoksa Temple

Seongdeoksa Temple is a Buddhist temple located at the foot of Bonghwasan Mountain in Sangbong-dong, Jungnang-gu, nestled in a narrow alley surrounded by residential areas. Established in 1957, its buildings include Daeungjeon (Main Hall), Jonggak (Bell Pavilion), Chilseonggak (Seven Stars Hall), Samsingak (Three Spirits Hall), and Mireukjeon (Maitreya Hall). Being in a residential area, it supports the religious life and community service activities of local residents. This site was originally said to be a place of strong energy, associated with the legend of Aedongji (a winter solstice tradition). According to the legend, an old man was cutting wood on the mountainside when he was startled to see that the trees he cut kept standing back up, and he fled to the village. He told the villagers this story, and a monk passing through the village for alms said that the place was filled with the grudges of many people, and advised them to offer prayers to resolve these grudges and not to eat red bean porridge on Aedongji (the early winter solstice in the 11th lunar month). The villagers dismissed the monk's words, but a widow with four children followed the monk's advice and offered prayers every year. Later, when a plague spread widely in the village, the widow's children remained healthy and grew well. It is said that on her deathbed, the widow called all her descendants and urged them to continue the prayers before passing away. After Korea's liberation in 1945, people began to gather and build houses in this area, but strangely, during construction, rafters would collapse or pillars would sink. Even when the Jogye Order built the temple, an ox carrying timber died and several workers were injured, but after the temple was completed, no one suffered from unexpected accidents. Local natives say this is because Seongdeoksa Temple offers prayers on their behalf.