Guinsa Temple in Danyang, North Chungcheong Province is drawing attention with the visit of the interim leader of the ruling People Power Party Han Dong-hoon on Jan. 9. President Yoon Suk-yeol also visited the temple three times from his candidacy to October last year.
Guinsa Temple is quite different from typical temples in Korea. Most Korean temples are built on stilts along the wide slopes of mountains with a series of halls arranged in steps. The structures gradually rise as you pass through various gates, such as Iljumun Gate (One Pillar Gate), Cheonwangmun Gate (Heavenly Kings Gate), Bulimun Gate (Gate of Non-Duality) and Haetalumun (Gate of Nirvana), toward Daeungjeon, or the Main Hall.
In contrast to other temples, Guinsa Temple drastically ascends rather than gradually. It’s astounding to find a temple in such a narrow gorge, flanked on both sides by around 50 tall concrete buildings. At the top, 600 meters above sea level, stands Daejosajeon, the Great Teacher Hall, a three-story wooden building with a gilded roof. Ascending through several halls from the entrance of the gorge, one eventually encounters the Daejosajeon at the end. Standing in the front yard or on the back mountain of the Daejosajeon, the view of Sobaeksan Mountain’ peaks extending through the narrow valley is breathtaking. According to Feng Shui, Guinsa is considered a propitious site taking on the form of “golden chicken embracing an egg.”
Looking at the history of Guinsa, it becomes clear why it is located in a narrow valley. Guinsa Temple was founded in 1945 by the Great Venerable Sangwol Wongak, who built a thatched hut and engaged in ascetic practices at Yeonhwaji, meaning lotus flower area, of Sobaeksan Mountain. According to the Cheontae Order, Sangwol Wongak, originally from Samcheok, Gangwon Province, settled on Sobaeksan Mountain in the 1930s after making pilgrimages to sacred sites in China and Tibet, and attained enlightenment on Dec. 28, 1951, in the lunar calendar.
Since then, it is told that it has been rumored that if you pray for three days at Guinsa Temple, a wish will come true. With increasing believers and visitors, particularly from Gangwon and North Chungcheong provinces, more buildings were built along the valley, creating the current form of the temple. All these buildings can accommodate up to 56,000 people. During the summer and winter retreats, up to 1,000 laypersons perform ascetic practices.
Guinsa Temple presents many unique features. Early on, Guinsa installed heating wires beneath the asphalt. It allowed visitors to walk up to the temple despite its location on the snowy and steep slopes of Sobaeksan Mountain as the path remains unfrozen during winter. Due to the narrowness of the valley, cars are not allowed, but a free shuttle bus operates from the parking lot to the entrance of the temple. There is also a separate post office.
