Right in the commercial heart of Samseong-dong in Gangnam District, where glass convention halls and office towers rise around the COEX Trade Center, crossing a single boulevard brings pedestrians before the tiled Jinyeomun Gate at the wooded foot of Mount Sudosan. Looking southward from the temple terraces, curved timber eaves and a twenty-three-meter granite statue of Maitreya Buddha stand framed against futuristic skyscrapers in one of Seoul's most striking dialogues between ancient stillness and modern motion.
This is Bongeunsa Temple (봉은사, 奉恩寺, Offering Gratitude Temple), founded in 794 during the Unified Silla era more than six centuries before Seoul became the Joseon capital. Alongside its role as a quiet urban oasis comparable to Vinh Nghiem Pagoda in Ho Chi Minh City, Bongeunsa once served as the pivotal headquarters that rescued Korean Seon Buddhism during the mid-sixteenth century.
IRoyal Tomb Gratitude, the Sixteenth-Century Monastic Examinations, and Maitreya
Stepping upward along the southern slope of Mount Sudosan, Bongeunsa centers on Daeungjeon enshrining the Triad of Sakyamuni, Amitabha, and Bhaisajyaguru, flanked across terraced courtyards by Jijangjeon, Yeongsanjeon (housing Sakyamuni and the Sixteen Arhats), Bukgeukbojeon (dedicated to the Seven Stars of the Northern Dipper), and the broad stone plaza of the 23-meter Maitreya Great Buddha.
The temple received its present name Bongeunsa (Offering Gratitude) in 1498 under the Joseon dynasty. After King Seongjong was laid to rest at nearby Seolleung Royal Tomb roughly one kilometer southwest, Queen Jeonghyeon refurbished ancient Gyeonseongsa Temple as the royal memorial guardian monastery (wonchal) praying for the late monarch's spirit in filial gratitude.
Bongeunsa's greatest gift to Korean Buddhist history unfolded during the mid-sixteenth century under Queen Regent Munjeong and the visionary abbot Master Heoeungdang Bowoo (보우대사, 1509 to 1565). Appointed abbot in 1548 after more than a century of severe Neo-Confucian suppression of Buddhism, Master Bowoo persuaded the court in 1551 to restore official recognition to the Seon (Meditation) and Gyo (Doctrinal) orders, designating Bongeunsa as the Supreme Head Monastery of the Seon School nationwide and reviving the state Monastic Examinations (Seunggwa). In the landmark examination of 1552 held directly in front of Bongeunsa, Master Bowoo discovered and certified two young monks who would become the towering spiritual and patriotic giants of late Joseon: Master Seosan Hyujeong and his disciple Master Samyeong Yujeong, leaders of the righteous monk armies that defended Korea during the 1592 Imjin War.
Few office workers hurrying through Gangnam today realize that the prime real estate directly opposite Bongeunsa's gate, now occupied by the sprawling COEX Convention Center and World Trade Tower, was known on Joseon maps for centuries as Seunggwapyeong (승과평, Monastic Examination Plain). Across that open riverside meadow, hundreds of candidate monks once gathered from all eight provinces to be tested on Seon gong-an (koan) and Mahayana scriptures before Master Bowoo's examiners prior to Gangnam's urban transformation in the 1970s.
First-time visitors are often drawn immediately to grand Daeungjeon and the towering stone Maitreya statue while walking past a modest, unpainted single-story hall tucked high on the eastern terrace called Panjeon (Woodblock Hall). Whereas Daeungjeon was rebuilt in 1982 after a devastating 1939 fire, Panjeon built in 1856 is the oldest surviving historic building at Bongeunsa, preserving more than 3,400 hand-carved sutra woodblocks in the spirit of Haeinsa Temple and displaying one of the most celebrated calligraphic signboards in Korean art history.
IITwelve Hundred Years from Unified Silla to Modern Gangnam
Enduring dynastic transitions, sixteenth-century court politics, historic Han River floods, twentieth-century fire, and the rise of modern Gangnam around its walls, Bongeunsa has sustained uninterrupted monastic life since the eighth century.
- 794National Preceptor Yeonhoe founds Gyeonseongsa under Unified SillaIn the tenth year of King Wonseong of Unified Silla, eminent Lotus Sutra scholar National Preceptor Yeonhoe establishes Gyeonseongsa (Seeing One's True Nature Temple).
- 1498Queen Jeonghyeon expands the monastery and bestows the name BongeunsaTo pray for the repose of King Seongjong at nearby Seolleung Royal Tomb, Queen Jeonghyeon rebuilds the temple on the southern foot of Mount Sudosan and renames it Bongeunsa.
- 1548 to 1565Master Bowoo revives the Seon order and presides over Monastic ExaminationsBongeunsa becomes national head temple of the revived Seon school in 1551 and hosts the 1552 Seunggwa examinations producing Masters Seosan and Samyeong before Bowoo's exile and death on Jeju in 1565.
- 1856Master Namho Yeonggi builds Panjeon and carves Avatamsaka woodblocksMonk-calligrapher Namho Yeonggi completes 3,479 woodblocks of the 80-fascicle Avatamsaka Sutra commentary and raises Panjeon Hall in 1856, hung with Chusa Kim Jeong-hui's final signboard.
- 1925 and 1939Abbot Cheongho's flood rescue of 708 villagers and the 1939 fireDuring the catastrophic July 1925 Han River flood, Abbot Na Cheongho rows temple boats through raging currents to save 708 stranded residents. In April 1939 fire destroys several main halls while sparing Panjeon.
- 1982 to 1996Reconstruction of Daeungjeon and completion of the 23-meter Maitreya BuddhaDaeungjeon is reconstructed on a grand scale in 1982, followed by ten years of stone carving (1986 to 1996) funded by over ten thousand devotees to raise the 23-meter granite Maitreya Great Buddha.
The childlike deathbed calligraphy of Chusa Kim Jeong-hui. Hanging beneath the front eaves of Panjeon is a wooden plaque carved with two large characters reading Panjeon (板殿) beside a small colophon: Written in illness by a seventy-one-year-old fruit. Brushed in the tenth month of 1856 just three days before his death by Chusa Kim Jeong-hui (추사 김정희, 1786 to 1856), Joseon Korea's greatest epigrapher and calligrapher, this two-character plaque represents the final brushstroke of his life. Having spent decades perfecting his razor-sharp Chusa style admired across Korea and Qing China, the dying master let go of every technical artifice for his monastic friend Namho Yeonggi, leaving two round, unadorned characters of childlike innocence widely revered in Korea as the visual embodiment of Seon non-striving.
IIIPanjeon Woodblock Hall, Granite Maitreya, and Pine-Forest Meditation Trails
Bongeunsa climbs gradually up the southern slope of Mount Sudosan from Jinyeomun Gate past spacious Beopwangnu Pavilion to the central terrace of Daeungjeon and its three-story stone sarira pagoda. To the upper east cluster the historic halls of Yeongsanjeon, Bukgeukbojeon, and 1856 Panjeon, while to the west opens the stone sanctuary of the 23-meter Maitreya Great Buddha linked to a 1.1-kilometer pine forest walking path circling the wooded hill behind the temple.
Built in 1856 across five front bays by three side bays with ventilated wooden storage racks holding 3,479 carved woodblocks of the Avatamsaka Sutra (Seoul Tangible Cultural Heritage No. 84) beneath Chusa Kim Jeong-hui's final calligraphic plaque (Seoul Tangible Cultural Heritage No. 83).
Completed in 1996 from pale Iksan granite blocks after a decade of work, the serene 23-meter standing Maitreya presides over an open-air stone courtyard capable of hosting thousands of worshippers against the backdrop of Gangnam's skyscrapers.
Rebuilt in 1982 in richly bracketed traditional style enshrining a 1651 wooden seated Sakyamuni Buddha triad (Treasure No. 1819) and facing a three-story stone pagoda with Sri Lankan Buddha sarira. Bongeunsa also safeguards a masterly 1344 Goryeo bronze incense burner inlaid with silver wire (Treasure No. 321).
Set high on the quiet rear slope, Yeongsanjeon houses Sakyamuni flanked by expressive statues of the Sixteen Arhats, right beside Bukgeukbojeon honoring the Seven Stars of longevity in traditional Korean Buddhist devotion.
A timber pavilion where resident monks strike the four ritual percussion instruments (dharma drum, wooden fish, cloud gong, and bronze bell) every dawn and evening amid the surrounding business district.
A tranquil 1.1-kilometer earthen footpath winding through red pines, bamboo groves, and wildflowers across the hillside behind the halls, muffling city traffic just a few hundred meters away.
| Feature | Key specifications and heritage treasures | Verified source |
|---|---|---|
| Key historical milestones | Founded 794 (Gyeonseongsa), renamed Bongeunsa in 1498, Seunggwa monastic exams held in 1552 | Korea Heritage Service (KHS), EncyKorea |
| Oldest surviving hall | Panjeon (1856, Seoul Heritage No. 425), Avatamsaka woodblocks (No. 84), Kim Jeong-hui plaque (No. 83) | Seoul Metropolitan Government, Bongeunsa |
| Monumental statue | 23-meter granite Maitreya Great Buddha (sculpted 1986 to 1996) | Bongeunsa Temple (bongeunsa.org) |
| Notable treasures | 1344 Goryeo Silver-Inlaid Bronze Incense Burner (Treasure No. 321), 1651 Wooden Buddha Triad (Treasure No. 1819) | Korea Heritage Service (KHS) |
| Signature annual rite | Jeongdae Bulsa woodblock-carrying procession on the 9th day of the 9th lunar month | Bongeunsa Temple, Jogye Order |
IVThe Lie of the Land
Standing south of the Han River in Gangnam, Bongeunsa nestles into the wooded southern flank of Mount Sudosan (修道山, Cultivating the Way Mountain, ~98 meters), a northern spur extending from Mount Daemosan toward the junction of Tancheon Stream and the Han River. The section below examines the terrain through the library's comparative framework of traditional East Asian landform geomancy (pungsu-jiri).
Located at coordinates 37.5157 degrees north, 127.0573 degrees east, Bongeunsa rests squarely against the southern face of Mount Sudosan, which serves as a sheltering rear backing blocking cold winter winds sweeping off the nearby Han River less than a kilometer to the north. Every principal hall along the ascending terrace from Jinyeomun Gate through Daeungjeon to Panjeon sits North and faces South (inflected slightly south-southwest), gathering warm southern sunlight throughout the year.
In Joseon times, the broad meadow of Seunggwapyeong in front of the gate formed an open bright hall draining gently toward the river, while the dense royal tomb forest surrounding UNESCO-listed Seolleung and Jeongneung to the southwest acted as a protective White Tiger screen. Today, as the high-rise towers of COEX and the World Trade Center rise across the boulevard to the south like a contemporary range of glass peaks, the preserved pine woods of Sudosan behind Bongeunsa maintain a cool, sheltered microclimate balancing northern monastic stillness with dynamic southern urban energy.
VCrown-Carrying Sutra Procession (Jeongdae Bulsa) and Urban Templestay
Bongeunsa leads major urban Dharma outreach, international Templestay programs, and traditional lunar calendar ceremonies in southern Seoul, highlighted by its distinctive autumn sutra-carrying rite. The table below outlines the key annual observances.
| Date | Calendar system | Observance | Ritual practice and significance at Bongeunsa |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9th day of the 9th month (Double Ninth) | Lunar calendar | Founding Commemoration and Jeongdae Bulsa Sutra Procession | Continuing an 1856 tradition, monks and thousands of devotees carry printed Avatamsaka Sutra volumes reverently atop their heads while chanting and processing in mandala formation through the grounds. |
| 8th day of the 4th month | Lunar calendar (public holiday) | Buddha's Birthday and Traditional Hanji Lantern Exhibition | Monumental illuminated mulberry-paper sculptures line the path from Jinyeomun Gate to the Maitreya plaza against the night skyline of Gangnam. |
| Night of December 31 | Solar calendar | New Year's Eve Midnight Bell Ceremony | Thirty-three strokes of the bronze temple bell welcome the New Year with prayers for peace across southern Seoul. |
| Early spring (March) | Solar and lunar calendars | Red Plum Blossom Season (Hongmaehwa) by Yeonggak Shrine | Some of Seoul's earliest crimson plum blossoms bloom beside the upper shrines, drawing photographers and tea-offering devotees. |
An evening refuge for Vietnamese professionals, conference visitors, and students in Gangnam. Standing directly across the street from the COEX Convention Center and City Airport Terminal, Bongeunsa welcomes countless Vietnamese trade delegates, IT engineers, students, and travelers working or attending exhibitions in southern Seoul. Walking the quiet pine trail behind the 23-meter Maitreya Buddha at dusk while paper lanterns glow against the evening towers offers overseas Vietnamese visitors a restorative moment of peace right in the center of metropolitan Seoul.
VILocation And How To Get There
- Address
- 531 Bongeunsa-ro, Samseong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul (chân nam núi Sudosan)
- Getting there
- The temple is located at 531 Bongeunsa-ro, Samseong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. Take Seoul Subway Line 9 to Bongeunsa Station (Exit 1, then walk straight ahead for 2 minutes to Jinyeomun Gate) or Subway Line 2 to Samseong Station (Exit 6, walk north along the eastern side of COEX Mall for about 10 minutes).
- Coordinates
- 37.5157, 127.0573
Bongeunsa welcomes pilgrims and visitors throughout the year to its courtyards and rear forest meditation path. When walking along the Sudosan forest trail or passing the Templestay compound, please keep voices low out of respect for meditators. Because Panjeon (1856) keeps its wooden doors closed to maintain stable humidity for the 3,479 historic woodblocks inside, Chusa Kim Jeong-hui's celebrated signboard is viewed directly from the front veranda.
Nearby places in the library
VIIContribute To This Page
Contribute photos, information or video for Bongeunsa Temple, Seoul
Góp ảnh, thông tin hoặc video cho Chùa Phụng Ân (Bongeunsa), Gangnam, SeoulEveryone is welcome to enrich this page: a photo you took, a detail the page misses, a short video. Every contribution is read and answered.
Thầy Ưng Khiêm mời cộng đồng cùng làm giàu trang này. Ảnh chụp tận nơi, một chi tiết lịch sử chưa được nhắc, một đoạn video ngắn: mọi đóng góp đều được đọc và trả lời.
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?Quick Questions
How old is Bongeunsa Temple in Gangnam?
Bongeunsa was founded in 794 during the reign of King Wonseong of Unified Silla by National Preceptor Yeonhoe under the original name Gyeonseongsa, making it more than 1,230 years old. It was expanded and renamed Bongeunsa in 1498 as a royal guardian temple for King Seongjong's nearby Seolleung tomb.
How did Bongeunsa revive Korean Seon Buddhism in the sixteenth century?
Appointed abbot in 1548, Master Bowoo restored official status to the Seon order in 1551 with Bongeunsa as its national head monastery and revived the Seunggwa monastic examinations in 1552 on the open plain opposite the gate (modern COEX). Those exams certified Masters Seosan Hyujeong and Samyeong Yujeong, future leaders of Korea's righteous monk armies.
Which building is the oldest surviving structure at Bongeunsa?
Panjeon (Woodblock Hall), built in 1856 on the upper eastern terrace to store 3,479 hand-carved woodblocks of the Avatamsaka Sutra, is the oldest intact building at Bongeunsa. Its wooden signboard was brushed by legendary scholar-calligrapher Chusa Kim Jeong-hui just three days before his death.
Which Buddha does the 23-meter stone statue at Bongeunsa depict?
Completed in 1996 after ten years of granite sculpting supported by over ten thousand devotees, the 23-meter outdoor statue depicts Maitreya Buddha (Mireukdaebul), the Buddha of the future, looking out compassionately over modern Seoul.
What is the Jeongdae Bulsa ceremony held at Bongeunsa each autumn?
Observed on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month since the nineteenth century, Jeongdae Bulsa is a solemn rite in which monastics and thousands of lay Buddhists balance printed Avatamsaka scriptures reverently atop their heads while chanting and walking in mandala formation around the temple courtyards.