Hwaunsa Temple (Yongin)

Hwaunsa Temple, located on the southern foot of Myeokjosan Mountain, is a bhikkhuni temple and a branch temple of Yongjusa Temple, the head temple of the second diocese of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism. The name Hwaun means 'flower-colored clouds,' derived from the belief that such clouds appeared at the place where the Buddha preached in the Yeongsan Hoesang. The temple was founded in 1938 by the layman Wooam Cha Chae-yoon, who lived in Suwon, and it became a proper temple when the monk Hwa-eung served as its abbot. As a temple founded in modern times, there are no notable buildings on the premises, but it houses the Wooden Seated Buddha (Amitabha and Bhaisajyaguru) of Hwaunsa Temple in Yongin, designated as a Gyeonggi-do Tangible Cultural Property. These statues were moved from Geumsansa Temple in Gimje and are now enshrined as the main Buddhas in the Daeungjeon Hall and Seonwon of Hwaunsa Temple. The Amitabha Buddha bears an ink inscription reading 'Seobangbul' (Western Buddha), and the Bhaisajyaguru Buddha reads 'Dongbangbul' (Eastern Buddha). Relics found inside the statues indicate they were created in 1628, providing valuable information for the study of Buddhist sculpture in the mid-Joseon period. Hwaunsa Temple is easily accessible as it is close to the city center and operates a Templestay program. It takes about 6 minutes by car from Seoyongin IC. Nearby attractions include Gyeonggi-do Museum, Gyeonggi Children's Museum, Korean Folk Village, and Everland.

Address: 111-14 Dongbaekjukjeon-daero, Cheoin-gu, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do, Hwaunsa Temple