Shinruksa Temple is situated on the slope of Mt. Pongmisan, in the upstream
area of the Namhangang River, 2.5km away from Yoju- eup. Legend
has it that this temple was built by Wonhyo-Daesa, a revered Buddhist master of the Shilla kingdom, but
relics
and historical sites do not support this. The temple owes its name
(Shinruk, "marvelous bridle") to a Buddhist monk from
the period of King Kojong of the Koryo dynasty. According
to this tale, when a wild and fierce horse appeared in a nearby
village, the Buddhist master came to put a bridle on the horse with
his miraculous power.
The temple became well known when a famous zen monk, Naongsonsa,
faced death there in 1376, the second year of King Uwang of the
Koryo dynasty. After the monk's death, the temple was rebuilt,
its scale expanded, and enjoyed its heyday. But it could not escape
degradation, because the new Choson dynasty preferred Confucianism
to Buddhism, and gave priority to suppressing the latter.
The temple soon regained its former glory as it was designated the
official temple for praying to the ghost of King Sejong. During
the Japanese invasion in the sixteenth century, many buildings were
burnt and then restored in 1671, the twelfth year of King Hyonjong
of the Choson dynasty
This temple contains priceless treasures, such
as Kungnakpojon Hall (Kyonggi Province's Tangible Cultural Property
no.128), the multi-layer stone pagoda (no. 225), Chosadang Hall
(180), Pojejonja-sokchongbudo stupa (228), Pojejonja- sokchongbi
monument (231), Taejanggakkibi monument (230) and the multi-layer
brick pagoda (226).
|
