Buddhist temple
Gaeunsa Temple
개운사(서울)
Official name
About this place
Gaeunsa, on the slopes of Anam Mountain, is modest in size but was a source of reform in Korean Buddhism. It also housed Central Sangha University, a foundational center of Buddhist education now in Gimpo. The usual account says royal preceptor Muhak founded it as Yeongdosa in 1396 (Taejo's 5th year), about 5 ri beyond Dongdaemun at the foot of Anam Mountain, near today's Korea University science and engineering campus. When King Jeongjo's consort Wonbin of the Hong clan died in month 5 of 1779 (Jeongjo's 3rd year), Yeongdosa's site was reportedly chosen for her tomb, Myeonginwon. Monk Inpadang Chukhong then moved the temple several ri east to its current site. However, a document called Temple Records dates the move to 1730 (Yeongjo's 6th year). The date of the change from Yeongdosa to Gaeunsa is uncertain. Since the 20th century, the temple has led Buddhist education projects and progressive Buddhist movements in Korea. The eminent modern Buddhist scholar Park Han-yeong stayed here in 1926, while Tanheo worked on scripture translation at its Daewonam hermitage. Although now part of the Jogye Order, it was managed by the Taego Order until recently, and married monks hosted the National Buddhist Missionaries' Conference here in 1955. Central Sangha University's use of the site for education from 1981 helped its tradition flourish in modern history. Myeongbujeon was built in 1873 (Gojong's 10th year), and 7 years later, in 1880, Master Yi Byeoksong rebuilt Daeungjeon. Further repairs have preserved the temple to the present. ✨AI
- Address
- 73 Gaeunsa-gil, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul (Anam-dong 5-ga) ✨AI
- Korean address
- 서울특별시 성북구 개운사길 73 (안암동5가)
- Opening hours
- 04:00~19:00 ※ Call before visiting
- Closed days
- Open all year
