Janggyeongsa

Janggyeongsa Temple is a Buddhist temple located within Namhansanseong Fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage site. It was built at the same time as the fortress. The monk soldiers (seunggun; an army composed of monks formed during national crises such as wars) who played a significant role during the Imjin War (Japanese invasions of Korea) took on various tasks according to national needs even after the war. Namhansanseong Fortress was a large-scale mountain fortress newly built south of Seoul by mobilizing monk soldiers under the leadership of Monk Byeokam Gakseong to prepare for the Later Jin (Hugeum), which was gaining power in the north at that time. To accommodate the monk soldiers who came from across the country, seven temples were built inside the fortress in addition to the existing Mangwolsa and Okjeongsa temples, and Janggyeongsa was one of them. After the construction was completed, the monk soldiers were tasked with managing and guarding the fortress, living in the nine temples as both monks and soldiers. In 1907, when the Korean Empire's army was disbanded by the Japanese, most of the military facilities of Namhansanseong Fortress and the temples that served as quarters for the monk soldiers were destroyed, but Janggyeongsa was the only temple that escaped this fate. It suffered extensive damage from a fire in 1975 but was restored and remains to this day. Janggyeongsa is located about halfway up Mangwolbong Peak north of Jwauimun, the east gate of Namhansanseong Fortress, and many people passed through the first ammun (hidden gate) of the fortress to access it. The temple features Daeungjeon Hall enshrining Sakyamuni Buddha, the monks' living quarters (yosa), the gate pavilion Jinnamnu, and a small Buddhist shrine called Chilseonggak. As it was a place where monk soldiers were stationed, the living quarters are notably larger than the main prayer hall.

(Source: National Heritage Administration website)