Sungnimsa Temple 숭림사

Sungnimsa Temple is one of the major temples of the Iksan area and is believed by some to have been built along with Geumsansa Temple by monk Jinpyo Yulsa during the reign of King Gyeongdeok (King of Silla, 742-764). Others believe that the temple was established by the monk Haengyeo Seonsa during the first year of King Chungmok of the Goryeo Dynasty (1345). Historians do know for a fact however that the temple was burnt down during the Imjin War (Japanese Invasion of Korea, 1592-1598), leaving only Bogwangjeon Hall. Later, in 1697 (the 23rd year of King Sukjong of the Joseon Dynasty) Wuhwaru Pavilion and Yeongwonjeon Hall were reconstructed followed by Nahanjeon Hall.

Sungnimsa Temple was named after the mountain and temple where Bodhi-Dharma practiced his meditation. Bodhi-Dharma, a great monk from the south of India, practiced seated Zen meditation for 9 years at the Sorimsa Temple located deep in Sungsan Mountain in China. In his honor, Sungnimsa Temple (a Buddhist temple of the same sect) was named after the mountain (‘Sung’) and the temple (‘Rim’ or ‘Nim’) where the Dharma lived.