Myojeoksa Temple

Myojeoksa Temple is a Buddhist temple located on Myojeoksan Mountain in Wabu-eup, Namyangju-si, Gyeonggi-do. It was founded by Wonhyo, a monk of the Unified Silla period of the North-South States Period. It is a branch temple of Bongseonsa, the head temple of the 25th Diocese of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism. It is said to have been founded by Wonhyo during the reign of King Munmu of Silla (661–681), but it was left in a state of near ruin until the early Joseon period. During the reign of King Sejong, Monk Hakyeol rebuilt it with about 180 rooms, establishing military camps for both the north and south and using it as a site for the military examination (mugwa). It also appears in historical records such as the Sejong Sillok, Yeonsangun Ilgi, and Sinjeung Dongguk Yeoji Seungnam. Myojeoksa Temple was thus a temple prepared to defend the nation during times of crisis and served as a training ground for monk soldiers. During the Japanese invasions of Korea (Imjin Waeran), it was used as a training center (hullyeondogam) by Monk Samyeong to train monk troops, but it was repeatedly attacked by Japanese forces and eventually fell into ruin. According to the [Record of the Construction of the Sansingak Hall at Myojeoksa Temple] written by Kim Gyo-heon, the temple had barely maintained its existence as a small temple for hundreds of years until the spring of 1895, when Monk Gyuo came to the temple, gathered alms, built the Sansingak Hall, and enshrined the mountain god statue that had long been at the temple. In 1969, a fire caused by the negligence of the head monk (Ingu) burned down the Sansingak Hall and the large room. In 1971, the head monk himself rebuilt the Daeungjeon Hall and the monks' quarters. The existing buildings include the Daeungjeon Hall and the monks' quarters. The Myojeoksa Valley near Myojeoksa Temple is a famous attraction in Namyangju, with cool streams and lush trees, drawing many visitors in the summer to escape the heat.