The temple we're about to see dates to the unified Silla period and was originally founded in 673 by the monk Uisang as a hermitage. It's one of the oldest temple sites connected to the Seoul area. An Indian monk named Jigong once visited this site and supposedly remarked that the scenery resembled Vulture Peak mountain in India, one of the most sacred mountains in Buddhism. Back then an old Korean word for India was Cheonchuk and according to legend that's where the temple got its name.

A creator note to plan a better Cheonchuksa Temple visit.

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