Since 1912, it
was a part of Konbongsa, but in 1971, it became the headquarters
for Korean Chogyejong Buddism Association. Shinhungsa is the oldest temple
in Inner-
and Outer-Sorak. At the entrance stands the beauteously
painted 'Iljoomun' where two dragons' heads peer out from under
the ceiling. Beyond the entrance gate, a monolith from late Lee
Dynasty, stands to the right, and tombstones for Yong-am, Taewon,
and Pakpa monks. Shinhungsa was originally built in the 6th year of queen Chindok
(652 AD) by a monk named Chajangyulsa. It was called Hyangsongsa
at first. In the front garden,
it had a 9-story stone tower
in which Budda's relics are kept. The temple was one of the ten
that Chajangyulsa built with Budda's relics after he studied in
China during Tang Dynasty. The original building site was about
1,000m east of current location. This
original buildings
of considerable sizes and number, were destroyed in the 10th year
of King Hyoso (701 AD), including the 9-story stone tower - only
3-story remains this day. Another monk by the name of Yisajosa built
another temple, Sonjongsa approximately 1,500m north of current
Shinhungsa -
present-day location of Naewonam. Sonjongsa continued for 942 years
through Koryo Dynasty and Choson's Lee Dynasty with its inhabitants
reaching some 900 monks, when a fire once again destroyed the temple
in the 20th year of king Injo. After two years in the 22nd year
of Injo, many monks since left the temple, when three monks, Undan,
Yon-ok, and Hyewon had one day identical dreams, while feeling deeply
embittered that such an old temple was lost, a white-haired immortal,
from Sorimam behind old Hyangsongsa, appeared and proclaimed to
them the place was 'the sanctuary for several ten thousand generations
that [no three calamities can harm]'. And they rebuilt the place
and named it 'Shinhungsa' as we know it today.
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