Doseonsa Temple (Seoul)

Heading about 1 km up the valley from the west of Uidong toward Baegundae, the highest peak of Bukhansan Mountain, you will encounter a mountain gate inscribed with the phrase 'Samilsusimcheonjaebo Baengnyeontammuliljojin' (Three days of cultivating the mind is a thousand-year treasure; a hundred years of greed turns to dust in a single morning). According to historical records, Doseonsa Temple is said to have been founded in 862 (the 2nd year of King Gyeongmun's reign) by National Preceptor Doseon. National Preceptor Doseon foresaw that the mountain terrain here would be a place to revive the Dharma in the Age of the Final Dharma a thousand years later, and after founding the temple, he split a large rock with a staff to create a rock-carved Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva statue. There are no records of reconstruction or repairs from the late Joseon period onward, but there is a record that when Bukhansanseong Fortress was built, monk soldiers stood guard at this temple. In 1863 (the 14th year of King Cheoljong's reign), it was repaired with donations from Kim Jwa-geun, and a Chilseonggak (Seven Stars Shrine) was newly built. In 1887 (the 24th year of King Gojong's reign), Im Jun erected a five-story pagoda and enshrined the sarira of Shakyamuni Buddha in the pagoda. The existing buildings include Daeungjeon (Main Hall) as the center, along with Hoguk Chamhoewon (National Defense Repentance Hall), Myeongbujeon (Judgment Hall), Samseonggak (Three Spirits Shrine), Jeokmukdang (Quiet Ink Hall), Cheonwangmun (Heavenly Kings Gate), Beomjonggak (Bell Pavilion), Jongmuso (Administrative Office), and Yosachae (Monks' Quarters). Inside Daeungjeon, the Amitabha Triad is enshrined, and on the interior walls of the hall are portraits of Bodhidharma, Huineng, and Cheongdam, along with a rear hanging painting, the Eight Scenes of the Buddha's Life, and the Nine Grades of the Pure Land painting. Currently, Doseonsa Temple houses numerous Seoul Metropolitan Tangible Cultural Heritage items, including the Rock-carved Standing Buddha (No. 34), Wooden Amitabha Buddha and Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva Statue (No. 191), Stone Solitary Saint Statue (No. 192), and Bronze Bell and Associated Artifacts (No. 259), as well as sacred cultural properties from the late 19th century such as the Ksitigarbha and Ten Kings Painting, the Large Hanging Painting, the Lotus Sutra, and the Avatamsaka Sutra Commentary.