Cheongpyeongsa

 buddhist temple  Add category

Cheongpyeongsa is located on the slopes of Obongsan. The temple was built in 973 during the Goryeo Dynasty. In 1089 Lee Ja-hyun stepped down from his government post and came to Cheongpyeongsan (mountain) to retreat from the world and enjoy peace. In his time on the mountain, Lee created a vast garden near Cheongpyeongsa, Jinrak-gong, the oldest garden from the Goryeo Dynasty. Trapezoidal stone walls surround the garden to create a square shape when viewed from outside, and water from the valley was redirected into the garden to form a pond that would reflect the image of Obongsan (mountain).

The oldest original part of the temple is the main gate, Hoejoenmun, which dates from 1555.

During the Korean War, Gugwangjeon and Saseongjeon (halls) of the temple were destroyed, but the Cheongpyeongsa Revolving Door (Treasure #164), which symbolizes the transmigration of souls, and Geukrakbojeon (hall), remain today. Near Cheongpyeongsa is Cheongpyeongsa Valley, which is known for its clean water, and Guseong Waterfall said to make nine different sounds.

Princess Tale:
Cheongpyeongsa is the setting of a princess tale about a princess of Tang. There was a young man who loved princess Pyeongyang, a daughter of emperor Taejong of the Tang dynasty. When emperor Taeiong killed the man, he was reborn as a lovesick snake clinging to the princess.

The princess left the palace, wandered, finally arriving at Cheongpyeongsa to pray for freedom from the snake. Alter spending a night at Gongjugol (princess cave) she cleansed her body in Gongjutang (princess bath) and made a Gasa (monk's robe).

Thanks to her virtue, after holding a ceremony the snake finally departed from the princess escaping the eternal cycle of birth, death and rebirth, and finally reached the state of nirvana as it passed through Hoejeonmun (the temple's main gate). The princess on returning to the palace told the emperor what had happened, and asked him to rebuild Cheongpyeongsa, and build a pagoda. A three-level pagoda was built here above the Guseong Waterfall, which still stands today, is called the Gongju Pagoda (gongju means "princess").


Cheongpyeongsa Hoejeonmun:
Hoejeonmun (gate) is the main entrance to Cheongpyeongsa that was built by Ambassador Bou in 1550. The center section is an entrance gate, and the rooms on each side house the sculptures and paintings of the Four Deva Kings.

Hoejeonmun was built to help people understand the concept of sarnsara, the Buddhist concept that all living creatures repeat their lives through the cycle of birth, death and rebirth as a wheel rolls unceasingly, the original meaning is the rotation of a Yunjangdae, where copies of the Buddhist scriptures are kept.