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Brief History of Bongwonsa Temple

The origins of today's Bongwonsa Temple go back to the founding of Banyasa Temple on what is now the grounds
of the adjacent Yonsei University campus, in 889 C.E. by National Master Doseon. The temple was moved to its
present location in 1748 C.E., and the reigning King Yeongjo wrote the calligraphic inscription for the temple.
Ven. Lee DongIn, a psychological leader of youth involved in a failed coup d'etat attempted in 1884 ("Gapsin
Jeongbyeon") resided here for five years, making the temple a cradle of attempted reform and modernization.
In 1911, the temple was expanded, and in 1945 a monument to liberation from Japan was erected, but this,
along with many other important cultural properties and artifacts including the calligraphy by King Yeongjo,
was destroyed during the recapturing of Seoul by Allied Forces in Sept. 1950 during the Korean War. In
1966, another new hall was built, but this was later moved to another part of the city.
Today's Bongwonsa Temple is the headquarters for the Taego Order of Korean Buddhism. The temple
includes about 60 monks and over 100,000 lay followers. Such famous 'Living National Treasures' as the late
Ven. Park SongAm (Buddhist Chant & Song) and Ven. Lee ManBong (Buddhist Temple Ornamentation and
Art) are among the many prides of Bongwonsa Temple.
The temple has many on-going educational programs, including the Okcheon Buddhist Music College,
and such lay organizations as the Avalokitesvara, Avatamsaka Sutra, Youth, Student and Children's
associations. Socially engaged monastic and lay members conduct regular visits to prisons, homes for youth,
orphanages, old folks homes and army installations for encouragement and propagation.

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