Key takeaways
Jingwansa is said to have first been built during the reign of Queen Jindeok of Silla, but the temple's reconstruction — essentially amounting to a refounding — took place in the early Goryeo dynasty. Fact According to legend, King Hyeonjong of Goryeo built this temple to repay Master Jingwan, the monk who had saved his life before he ascended the throne. Fact Yi Seong-gye, founder of the Joseon dynasty (known posthumously as King Taejo), visited Jingwansa in 1397, built a hall for water-and-land rites there, and had a state-sponsored Buddhist rite for the deceased performed — after which Jingwansa became the principal site for this ritual throughout the Joseon dynasty. Fact
What to look for on site
- The overall layout of Jingwansa's temple complex
- Signage explaining the origins of this water-and-land memorial rite
- Historical records documenting the temple's ties to the royal family
Editorial note
The Silla-era founding is passed down as legend without sufficient supporting evidence, so this guide treats the early Goryeo reconstruction as the temple's practical historical starting point.