Jeongsuksa Temple (Ganghwa)

Located on the eastern slope of Manisan Mountain on Ganghwado Island, Jeongsuksa Temple (精修寺) is a Buddhist temple founded by Master Hoejeong in the 8th year of Queen Seondeok of Silla (639). It is one of the representative temples of Ganghwa, along with Jeondeungsa Temple and Bomunsa Temple. After paying homage to Chamseongdan Altar, Master Hoejeong saw the eastern terrain of Manisan and deemed it a place for Buddhists to cultivate samadhi (meditative concentration), so he built a temple and named it Jeongsuksa. Later, in the 5th year of King Sejong of Joseon (1423), Master Hamheo rebuilt it. It is said that upon seeing clear water springing from the west side of the building, he changed the name from Jeongsuksa (精修寺) to Jeongsuksa (淨水寺). From the 14th year of King Heonjong (1848), bhikkhuni (nuns) resided here, repeatedly repairing and reconstructing the temple, enshrining Buddhist paintings, and maintaining the temple. During the repair work in 1957, a ridge beam inscription dated to the 15th year of King Sukjong (1689) was discovered in Daeungbojeon Hall. According to this, it records that the hall was newly built in the 5th year of King Sejong. The hall measures 3 kan (bays) in front and 4 kan on the sides, with a gable roof shaped like the Chinese character '人' (person) when viewed from the side. The bracket sets (gongpo) supporting the roof weight are placed only on the columns in the jusimpo style, and the front and back sides differ from each other.