Jeondeungsa Temple
Ganghwa Island is home to sites associated with Dangun, the legendary founder of Korea. One such site is Manisan, and the other is Samnangseong Fortress in Ganghwa. Samnangseong, which is said to have been built by the three sons of Dangun, served as an outer defensive structure for the capital cities of Gaegyeong during the Goryeo Dynasty and Hanyang (now Seoul) during the Joseon Dynasty.
Jeondeungsa Temple, located within Samnangseong Fortress, is one of Ganghwa's most representative temples. It is believed to have been founded by the monk Ado in 381 AD during the 11th year of King Sosurim's reign. The temple was originally named Jinjeongsa, but during the Goryeo Dynasty, it was renamed Jeondeungsa, meaning "Temple of the Transmission of the Lamp of Dharma." Over the centuries, the temple suffered from several fires that led to the loss of its buildings. However, in 1625, during the third year of King Injo's reign, the temple was restored to its original form.
Although the Joseon Dynasty implemented policies to suppress Buddhism, Jeondeungsa Temple enjoyed royal protection. This was because Jeondeungsa played a crucial role as a guardian temple for the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty (Joseon Wangjo Sillok), which were stored in a repository (sago) located within Jeongjoksanseong Fortress. The Annals, which are now recognized as a UNESCO Memory of the World, were safeguarded by the temple.
In the late Joseon period, specifically in 1871 (the 8th year of King Gojong's reign), a warehouse was built at the site to store weapons and provisions. The following year, a force of 50 monk-soldiers (sungun) was stationed there to further protect the area.
Jeondeungsa Temple, with its long history dating back to the Three Kingdoms period, is home to many valuable national treasures. Among the most notable are the Daeungjeon Hall, renowned for its elegant curves and ornate decorations, an iron bell brought from China, and the Wooden Seated Sakyamuni Triad, known for its exceptional carving technique. To the west of Jeondeungsa lies the former site of the Ganghwa Jeongjoksan Sago, where the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty were stored; this site is now designated as a cultural monument by Incheon Metropolitan City.
Ganghwa Samnangseong Fortress is named after a legend that it was built by the three sons of Dangun, hence the name "Samnangseong," which means "Fortress of the Three Sons." In 1660, during the first year of King Hyeonjong's reign, the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty (Joseon Wangjo Sillok), which had been stored at the repository on Mount Mani, were relocated to the Jeongjoksan Sago within the fortress. Alongside the sago, the Seonwonbogak was constructed to house the royal genealogies. However, both the sago and Seonwonbogak have since disappeared, leaving only Jeondeungsa Temple remaining within the fortress today.
The Annals of the Joseon Dynasty (Joseon Wangjo Sillok): The Jeongjoksan Sago edition of the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty is a massive historical record that documents the history of the 25 kings of the Joseon Dynasty, spanning 472 years from 1392, during the reign of King Taejo, the dynasty's founder, to 1863, during the reign of King Cheoljong. The Annals are recorded in the chronological style (pyeonnyeonche), which arranges events in the order they occurred. Based on the Jeongjoksan Sago edition held at the Gyujanggak Archives, the complete collection comprises an extensive 1,187 volumes.
Daeungjeon Hall of Jeondeungsa Temple, Ganghwa: The Daeungjeon Hall, which enshrines the Sakyamuni Buddha Triad, is believed to have been constructed in 1621 during the 13th year of King Gwanghaegun's reign. A unique feature of this hall is the carved figures of people at the top of each of the four corner pillars. According to legend, these figures represent a woman who wronged the carpenter in charge of the construction by stealing his wealth. To warn others and atone for her misdeeds, the woman was carved in a nude form to symbolically bear the weight of the eaves, serving as a cautionary tale.
Jeondeungsa Temple Iron Bell, Ganghwa: The iron bell at Jeondeungsa Temple was brought from China and was nearly lost during the metal requisition process in the late Japanese colonial period. After Korea's liberation, the bell was discovered at the Bupyeong Arsenal and subsequently moved to Jeondeungsa, where it has been preserved ever since. The bell exhibits the typical characteristics of Chinese bells in both its form and carving techniques, which distinctly set it apart from traditional Korean bells.
Wooden Seated Sakyamuni Triad at Jeondeungsa Temple, Ganghwa: The Wooden Seated Sakyamuni Triad was created in 1623 under the direction of the monk-sculptor Suyeon, who was active in the early 17th century in regions such as Jeollabuk-do and Chungcheongnam-do. This triad reflects the iconography of the Three Buddhas (Samsebul) that became widely popular throughout the country during the late Joseon period.
Jeongjoksan Sago Site, Ganghwa: The Jeongjoksan Sago site is located within Jeongjoksanseong Fortress, to the west of Jeondeungsa Temple. Because Jeondeungsa served as the guardian temple protecting the sago (archives), the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty and other books were able to be preserved at this site until 1910, when they were moved by the Japanese Governor-General's Office of Education.
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Address
37-41 Jeondeungsa-ro, Ganghwa-gun, Incheon
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Contact
+82-32-937-0125
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Visiting Hours
Summer: 08:00 AM – 6:30 PM
Winter: 08:30 AM – 6:00 PM
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Stamp
In front of the ticket office at the South Gate of Jeondeungsa Temple
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Admission Fee
Free
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Website
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Directions
Take Subway Line 2 to Dangsan Station → Take Bus No. 7000 at ‘Dangsan Station’ bus stop → Get off at Solter Village Entrance stop and transfer to Bus No. 70 → Get off at Jeondeungsa South Gate stop → Walk 13 minutes
