Seongnimsa Temple in Jincheon: A Peaceful Retreat with a Unique Buddha Statue

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Seongnimsa Temple, belonging to the Taego Order of Korean Buddhism, is located in Deoksan-eup, Jincheon-gun, Chungcheongbuk-do. It sits on the southern side of Mt. Seongsu, in a spot in Sansu-ri that legend says is the most auspicious site in Jincheon.

Seongnimsa Temple doesn't have a designated parking lot, but there's an open space near the entrance where about 2-3 cars can park. As soon as I parked, a Shiba Inu ran up to me. It seemed to be a dog raised at the temple, and it kept following me around, which was adorable.

As soon as I arrived at Seongnimsa Temple, I saw the Daeungjeon (main hall). It's a small temple, so I could look around quickly. The Daeungjeon has a five-kan front and a three-kan side structure, and it enshrines Sakyamuni Buddha. The temple had a quiet and orderly feel that suited its small size. I visited late in the afternoon, and the doors were closed, so I couldn't see the inside.

Next to the Daeungjeon is the Geungnakjeon (Paradise Hall), where the Sansu-ri Maae Yeoraejwasang (Rock-carved Seated Buddha) is enshrined. In front of the Geungnakjeon was a thin, long three-story stone pagoda. From the outside, it didn't seem that big.

The Geungnakjeon was open, so I could look inside, and the structure was really interesting. The bedrock was brought inside the building, and you could see the Sansu-ri Maae Yeoraejwasang through the large windows. It was a temple space that utilized the natural bedrock.

The Sansu-ri Maae Yeoraejwasang is designated as Chungcheongbuk-do Cultural Heritage Material No. 20 and has the upper body carved thickly on granite. The total height is recorded as about 220cm, and the Buddha's height is about 188cm. It has a round face, long ears, and three lines of wrinkles called 'samdo' on its neck.

This is a view of the Geungnakjeon and Sansu-ri Maae Yeoraejwasang from the side. A roof has been placed over it to protect the cultural property, and it can be viewed through the internal glass windows.

It is said that the Buddha statue was carved into a rock face that was already heavily eroded, so the detailed shapes are not clear.

After passing the Geungnakjeon and climbing up from the Daeungjeon, the scenery was really beautiful because there were no tall buildings. The lawn was neatly landscaped, so I felt like I was in a small garden.

You have to go up the mountain path a little to get to the Sansingak (Mountain Spirit Shrine), and the path continues behind the Daeungjeon.

The Shiba Inu I saw earlier accompanied me to the Sansingak, as if it were guiding me.

The Sansingak at Seongnimsa Temple in Jincheon was unique in that there was no building, and you could see the roof and large bedrock. It's hard to see because it's so worn, but if you look closely, you can see the figures of the Mountain Spirit and a tiger. I was very impressed that it was built without harming nature.

Next to Seongnimsa Temple, there is a path leading to the charnel house and the lotus path, so please keep that in mind. Seongnimsa Temple is a small temple, but the walking paths and lawn are well maintained, making it a great place to visit casually. You can see the Sansu-ri Maae Yeoraejwasang in the Geungnakjeon, which has a unique shape, so I recommend visiting.