Silleuksa Temple

Korean temples are usually built in the mountains, but Silleuksa stands on the bank of the Namhan River at the foot of Bongmisan, just east of Yeoju, the only riverside temple in South Korea. Legend says the Silla monk Wonhyo founded it after filling in a pond from which nine dragons had risen to heaven. The temple grew greatly when the Goryeo master Naong stayed here; after he died at Silleuksa in 1376, the scholar Yi Saek built a hall to keep the Tripitaka, and Naong's stupa followed in 1379. Under King Seongjong it became the guardian temple of the tomb of King Sejong the Great, moved to Yeoju in 1469, and the state enlarged it and renamed it Boeunsa, though it took back its old name once that role faded. Its eight designated Treasures include a six-tier brick pagoda overlooking the river, one of only a handful of brick pagodas in Korea, a seven-tier marble pagoda of the early Joseon period and the Josadang, the oldest building of the temple; a ginkgo of about 600 years and a juniper of about 500 grow in the grounds.

Background

Silleuksa is a Korean Buddhist temple set against a low hill beside the Namhan River, just east of Yeoju in Gyeonggi Province, and the only riverside temple in South Korea. Tradition credits its founding to the Silla monk Wonhyo; enlarged, burned and rededicated several times, it became the prayer sanctuary for the tomb of King Sejong the Great, moved nearby in 1469. A sacred place of pilgrimage, it keeps designated Treasures such as a six-tier brick pagoda above the river and a seven-tier marble pagoda, and a 600-year-old ginkgo and a 500-year-old juniper grow in its grounds.

Source: Wikipedia, "Silleuksa"

What you'll find

• The brick pagoda - a six-tier brick pagoda overlooking the river, one of only a handful in Korea.
• The marble pagoda - a seven-tier pagoda of the early Joseon period in the central courtyard, its base carved with dragons, lotus flowers and waves.
• Josadang - the oldest building of the temple, holding the portraits of the monks Naong, Muhak and Jigong.
• The old trees - a ginkgo of about 600 years, said to have been planted by Naong, and a juniper of about 500.

When to go

Silleuksa is a working temple of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism and a branch of Yongjusa, the head temple of the order's second district.

What to expect

By the usual measure the temple is small. Several of its Treasures stand away from the courtyard: behind the Josadang and up the hill are an octagonal stone lantern of the Goryeo period, the bell-shaped stupa of the monk Naong and a stone stele.

Nearby

In a straight line, the centre of Yeoju is about 2 km to the west-south-west and Yeongneung, the tomb of King Sejong the Great that the temple was made to serve, about 5 km to the west-north-west; Seoul is about an hour away to the north-west.

Key facts