Seonunsa Temple

SOUTH KOREA, North Jeolla, Gochang

Seonunsa, which means Temple of Seon Clouds, acquired its name as it was a gathering place for monks, who were said to “flow like water and clouds.” It is the head temple for the 23rd district of the Jogye order of Korean Seon Buddhism and was established by Seon Master Geomdan in 577 during the Baekje dynasty. This temple was reputed to have had 189 buildings and was reconstructed in 1472 during the Joseon dynasty. It was completely destroyed when the Japanese invaded Korea in 1597 and was rebuilt by Master Wonjun in 1613. The temple has undergone several reconstructions and renovations since then.
The current temple buildings include the Great Hero Hall, Sacred Mountain Hall, Avalokitesvara Hall, Hall of Ten Thousand Years, Judgment Hall, Mountain Deity Shrine, bell tower, six-tier stone pagoda, and Dosoram Hermitage. The Great Hero Hall was listed as Treasure No. 290 in 1963.
The temple houses a 96.9 cm high statue of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva from the Goryeo dynasty (918–1392). It was listed as Treasure No. 280 in 1963. A 17 m high Buddhist cliff sculpture made during the Goryeo dynasty is enshrined within Dosoram Hermitage. It was listed as Treasure No. 1200 in 1994.