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奉先寺

Pronunciations

Basic Meaning: Bongseonsa

Senses:

  • 'Offerings to Forebears Temple;' located at Mt. Un-ak 雲嶽山 in Namyangju-si 南楊洲市, Gyeonggi-do 京畿道 and was built by Tanmun 坦文 in 969, the 20th year of the reign of King Gwangjong (光宗 r. 949–975) of the Goryeo Dynasty. At first, the name of the temple was Unaksa named after the Unak mountain. However, in 1469, the first year of the reign of King Yejong (睿宗 r. 1468–1469), Queen Jeonghui 貞姬, wife of King Sejo (世祖 r, 1445–1468), established the tomb of her husband on this mountain and renamed the temple Bongseonsa. It became the headquarters of the Doctrinal Teaching school 教宗 when the two schools of the Doctrinal Teaching school and the Seon Teaching school 禪宗 were restored in 1500 during the reign of King Myeongjong (明宗 r. 1545–1567). The Big Bell 大鐘 which was made at the time of the foundation still remains. It was designated as National Treasure No. 397 by Government. As the temple experienced several wars including the Imjin-waeran (壬辰倭亂 Japanese Invasion of Korea in 1592), Byeongja-horan (丙子胡亂 Manchu Invasion of 1636), and the Korean War, it has been burned down and rebuilt several times. The thickly wooded road in front of the temple toward the direction of Pocheon city 抱川市 leads to the Forest Museum built and managed by the Korea Forestry Research Institute. [Ockbae Chun, R. Lynn]
  • Fengxiansi. The Fo Guang Dictionary provides fairly detailed information on two Chinese temples with this name. One of them was founded by Empress Wu at Longmen, dedicated to her ancestors. [Charles Muller, R. Lynn; source(s): FGD]
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    [Dictionary References]

    Bulgyo sajeon 314a

    Zengaku daijiten (Komazawa U.) 1136b

    Fo Guang Shan Dictionary 3133

    Copyright provisions

    The rights to textual segments (nodes) of the DDB are owned by the author indicated in the brackets next to each segment. For rights regarding the compilation as a whole, please contact Charles Muller. Please do not reproduce without permission. And please do not copy into Wikipedia without proper citation!

    Entry created: 2006-03-22

    Updated: 2013-12-05