Seonwonsa Temple Site, Ganghwa

Basic information

Designation

Historic Site No.259

Category

유적지

Era

고려 고종 32년(1245)

Designated year

1977

Location

강화군, 인천광역시— 인천 강화군 선원면 지산리 산133번지

Coordinates

37.720349, 126.491616

This temple site built by Choe I (otherwise Choe U) in 1245 after Goryeo moved its seat of government to Ganghwa-do during the Mongolian invasion. It is roughly divided by staircases into four sections. The central area, which seems to have included the building, is 250m long north-south and 170m long east-west. Relics such as bricks showing bosanghwa (the ideal flower of Buddhism) patterns, chimi (the dragon-head-shaped tiles that were made to hang at roof tops), figures of monkeys, and fragments of tiles have been excavated. The temple was built by Choe U during Goryeo's resistance against the Mongols. It was founded with the purpose of saving Goryeo with the help of Buddha. It is the largest temple built during the period of the Ganghwa-do retreat. It is also the place where the Tripitaka Koreana, an international cultural heritage, was impressed on wood blocks and preserved.

Location