Cheongnyeonam (Suwon)

Long ago, Taejo, the founder of Goryeo, built a temple on his way back to Gaeseong after conquering Later Baekje. Seeing a radiant light emanating from the mountain, he believed it was a teaching from the Buddha. He named the mountain Gwanggyosan, and as its fame spread, miracles occurred, drawing many monks and devotees to the mountain. Eventually, hermitages were established in every valley, totaling 89 temples. Although this is now just a legend and traces of them are lost, the true Buddhist sanctuary Cheongnyeonam on Gwanggyosan has continued its lineage from the Joseon period to the present. Today, Suwon's city center has developed, but at the end of the road beneath Gwanggyosan, there remains a modest bhikkhuni temple, Cheongnyeonam, upholding the Buddha's teachings as a proper sanctuary. Once reduced to ruins with only an empty site, it was rebuilt by the founding monk Cheongnyeon, hence the name Cheongnyeonam. Later, with support from the powerful Heungseon Daewongun of the late Joseon period and as a prayer site for Lady Eom, mother of Crown Prince Yi Un, the foundation of the current temple was laid. With the help of Lady Eom as a donor and the devotee Im, it continued as a sanctuary of water and moon, and became a practice sanctuary embodying the Buddha's teachings as an arhat sanctuary.