Heungguksa Temple (Goyang)

The founding of Heungguksa Temple dates back approximately 1,300 years to 661 AD (the first year of King Munmu of Silla). While practicing at Wongyoam Hermitage on Bukhansan Mountain, the great monk Wonhyo saw an auspicious energy rising from the northwest and descended the mountain to this location. Upon seeing the stone Medicine Buddha (Yaksa Yeorae) emitting a radiant light, Wonhyo considered it a place of karmic connection. He enshrined the Medicine Buddha in the main hall and named the temple Heungseongam, saying, 'This is a place where an auspicious light has arisen, and many saints will emerge from here,' thus founding today's Heungguksa Temple.

Since then, there are no records to trace the temple's history in detail, but it is known that the temple was rebuilt in 1686 (the 12th year of King Sukjong) and greatly developed during the reign of King Yeongjo. Notably, in 1758 (the 34th year of King Yeongjo), the Amitabha Buddha statue in Mitajeon Hall was regilded and repaired (as recorded in the Bokjang Yeongimun). In 1770 (the 46th year of King Yeongjo), King Yeongjo visited the tomb of his biological mother, Lady Choi Sukbin, at Sonyeongwon. Encountering heavy snow, he stopped at this temple, stayed overnight, and composed a poem upon waking, which is preserved in an inscription.