Jinjeonsa Temple

Jinjeonsa Temple is a temple located in Ganghyeon-myeon, Yangyang-gun, Gangwon-do, founded by Master Doui in the late 8th century during the Unified Silla period. Master Doui was the person who first introduced Seon (Zen) Buddhism (a Buddhist sect emphasizing personal cultivation) to Silla. After studying in Tang China, he returned to his homeland and introduced Seon Buddhism, but due to the atmosphere that valued the Doctrinal school (a Buddhist sect emphasizing scriptures and doctrines), he could not realize his aspirations and practiced asceticism here until his death. Jinjeonsa Temple is also famous as the temple where Master Iryeon, who wrote the 'Samguk Yusa' (Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms), became a monk at the age of 14. The period when the temple disappeared is unknown, and it remained as a ruined temple site until it was restored in 2005 and designated as a traditional temple in 2009. Today, at the site of Jinjeonsa Temple in Yangyang, two cultural heritage assets remain. The Three-story Stone Pagoda at Yangyang Jinjeonsa Temple Site (National Treasure) is a representative stone pagoda of the Unified Silla period, with delicate and beautiful carvings on the base and Buddha images on the first-story body stone. The Stupa of Master Doui at Yangyang Jinjeonsa Temple Site (Treasure), located on the hill east of the temple, is the stupa of Master Doui, who founded the temple. The 3-meter-high granite stupa is believed to have been built around the mid-9th century and is considered the starting point of Korean stone stupas for monks.