Cheongnyangsa (Seoul)

Cheongnyangsa is a bhikkhuni temple located on the southern foot of Cheonjangsan Mountain. It is the site of the famous Dolkkot Seungbang, historically known as one of the four major bhikkhuni temples. Originally, Cheongnyangsa and Dolkkot Seungbang were separate temples, but after the assassination of Empress Myeongseong in 1895 due to Japan's scheme to colonize Joseon, Hongneung, the empress's tomb, was established. Cheongnyangsa, which had been on the site of Hongneung, was moved to its current location, and around the same time, Dolkkot Seungbang declined, leading to the merger of the two temples. In the late Joseon period, it was a popular resting place for Seoul residents, and during the Japanese colonial period, when the country was in hardship, it was frequently visited by many patriots and eminent monks. Notably, Manhae Han Yong-un, a leading figure in the independence movement and Buddhist reform during the Japanese colonial era, once stayed at Cheongnyangsa, and his 60th birthday celebration was held modestly here on July 12, 1939. Around the same time, Buddhist scholar Park Han-young also resided at this temple, and the calligraphy on the Cheongnyangsa plaque hanging in the main hall is said to be his work. Upon entering the temple gate, the Gwaneumjeon Hall appears immediately, with high-rise apartments visible behind it. Perhaps due to its location in a residential area, Cheongnyangsa operates a daycare center and has a playground for children. The oldest building in Cheongnyangsa, Geungnakbojeon, features a small stupa-like finial on the center of its roof. Due to the temple's sloping terrain, the buildings are compactly constructed in a multi-story structure. Although small, it houses Gwaneumjeon, Muryangsujeon, Daeungjeon, Daebangchae, Seolseondang, and Jeokmukdang, maintaining the appearance of a temple.

Address: 10-3, Jegi-ro 31-gil, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul