Bongeunsa

Bongeunsa
Part of Bongeun Temple
Korean name
Hangul	봉은사
Hanja	奉恩寺
Revised Romanization	Bongeunsa
McCune–Reischauer	Pongŭnsa

Bongeunsa is a Buddhist temple located in Samseong-dong, Gangnam-gu in Seoul, South Korea. It was founded in 794 during the reign of King Wonseong by the monk Yeon-hoe (Hangul: 연희), then the highest ranking monk of Silla, and originally named Kyongseoungsa (Hangul: 견성사; Hanja: 見性寺). It is located on the slope of Sudo Mountain, across the street from the COEX Mall.

During the Joseon Dynasty, Buddhism in Korea was severely suppressed. However, The temple began to be known as Bongeunsa when was reconstructed in 1498 under the patronage of a Joseon Queen. The term Bongeunsa means the act of honoring the king, which here can be understood as taking the form of praying for king Seongjong's eternal life.

A fire in 1939 destroyed most of the buildings, and other parts of the temple were destroyed during the Korean War. Fortunately, one of the very few halls which escaped destruction during the Korean War continues to hold the woodblock carvings of the Flower Garland Sutra, 봉completed in 1855 by monk Young-ki The temple has undergone many repairs and renovations, and is now once again a large, thriving complex. The reconstruction efforts are being waged even today.

Bongeunsa was made one of the Korean Empire's 14 major temples in 1902. During the Japanese occupation the temple became the headquarters of 80 smaller Buddhist temples around Seoul. In 1922 and 1929, the head monk Cheong-ho saved over 700 people from drowning in the Han river, an act that inspired a monument of recognition. After colonial rule Bongeunsa became subordinate to the Jogye order, the largest Buddhist sect in Korea.