Jeondeungsa Temple in Ganghwa-gun, Incheon, comes under the spotlight ahead of being designated as a national heritage scenic spot.

Growth during the Goryeo Dynasty since its founding about 1,600 years ago... Archives of the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty

The National Heritage Committee will deliberate on the 30th... Ganghwa-gun’s ‘first scenic spot’

(Incheon = Yonhap News) Reporter Cheon Jeong-in = Jeondeungsa Temple in Ganghwa-gun, Incheon, the oldest existing temple in Korea, is being re-examined ahead of its designation as a 'National Heritage Scenic Site'.

According to Ganghwa-gun and Jeondeungsa Temple on the 21st, the National Heritage Administration collected opinions from all walks of life for a month starting from the 10th of last month to designate the 'Ganghwa Jeongjoksan Jeondeungsa area' as a scenic spot, and there were no objections during this period.

Accordingly, Jeondeungsa Temple is expected to be designated as a scenic spot by the National Heritage Committee on the 30th. Among natural heritage sites, when the need for preservation is recognized as having high historical, scenic, and academic value, they are designated as scenic spots.

Ganghwa-gun has 37 nationally designated cultural heritage sites, including 13 treasures, but there are no places designated as scenic spots.

Jeondeungsa Temple was founded in 381, nine years after 372, when Buddhism was said to have been first introduced to Korea. It was built during the reign of King Sosurim of Goguryeo, and its name at the time of its founding was ‘Jinjongsa Temple’, not Jeondeungsa Temple. It is said that a monk from the Jin Dynasty built it while staying on Ganghwa Island.

Over 900 years later, Jeondeungsa Temple grew significantly, forming a special relationship with the royal family of the Goryeo Dynasty.

King Gojong, who moved the capital to Ganghwa Island to avoid the Mongol invasion, had a temporary palace built within Jeongjoksanseong Fortress (Samrangseong) in 1259, and after that, Jinjongsa Temple was also greatly expanded.

Later, in 1282, during the reign of King Chungnyeol, the name was changed to Jeondeungsa Temple when Queen Jeonghwagungsa donated sutras and jade lanterns to Jinjongsa Temple.

‘Jeondeung’ means conveying Buddhist teachings, and Jeondeungsa explained that the import and storage of the Tripitaka Koreana published in China’s Song Dynasty may have been a decisive moment.

Jeondeungsa Temple also strengthened its position during the Joseon Dynasty.

In 1614, during the reign of Gwanghaegun, a major fire occurred and Jeondeungsa Temple was destroyed, but it was soon rebuilt, and at this time, Daeungjeon Hall, Jeondeungsa Temple's representative building and treasure (No. 178), was also rebuilt.

Afterwards, it acquired the appearance of a ‘royal temple’ while storing the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty.

Jeondeungsa Temple is also famous as a temple that protected the country.

In 1866, when Byeonginyangyo occurred, monks fought at Jeongjoksanseong Fortress together with the Joseon army against the French army that invaded Ganghwado Island.

On the pillars and walls of the main hall of Jeondeungsa Temple, traces of the names of soldiers at the time written down to protect the country remain to this day.

Currently, various national heritages are preserved at Jeondeungsa Temple, including six treasures, including the main hall, the Yaksajeon, and the temple bell.

Jeondeungsa Temple explains that Jeongjoksan Mountain and the fortress surrounding the temple also have excellent scenery along with historical relics.

Ganghwa-gun plans to promote the value of history and nature and utilize it as a tourist resource once Jeondeungsa Temple is designated as a national heritage scenic spot.

An official from Ganghwa-gun said, “Ganghwa has several other national heritage sites, but this is the first time it has been designated as a scenic spot, so it has special meaning.”