Gurye Cheoneunsa Temple (천은사(구례))
History · 209, Nogodan-ro, Gurye-gun, Jeonnam-Gwangju Special Metropolitan City
Nearby stations and stops
- Bus stop 천은사 · straight-line 335m
Straight-line distance; the actual walk is longer · Data as of 2025-10-31
Source: Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport nationwide bus stop locations
- Admission
- Not provided
- Hours
- Open 24 hr
- Closed
- N/A (Open all year around)
- Parking
- Parking available
- Available
- Pets
- Not provided
- Accessibility
- Not provided
- Data status
- Source: Korea Tourism Organization TourAPI · Source updated: 2026-06-30 · Collected: Not provided
Located north of Gurye on Jirisan Mountain, and built during the Unified Silla Period, Cheoneunsa Temple is one of the three great Buddhist temples of Jirisan Mountain. Cheoneunsa Temple is believed to have been built by Monk Deokun and Monk Seru from India in AD 828 during the 3rd year of King Heungdeok. Because it initially laid next to spring water as clean and cold as a morning dew, the temple was also called Gamrosa, meaning Sweet Dew Temple. The spring water was rumored to clean one’s body and soul, leading to crowd of Buddhist monks to visit the temple. During King Chungryeol’s reign, the temple was named the Best Temple in the south. The temple was burned down during the Imjin War (1592-1598) and then later rebuilt and renamed Cheoneunsa. Legend has it that while the temple was being rebuilt, a large serpent often came out of the spring. When the serpent was finally captured and killed, the spring waters suddenly dried up. Hence the name Cheoneunsa, meaning Disappearance of Spring Water, was given.
In the area
Buddhism 2 of 10 attractions in Gurye-gun
Similar places nearby
Similar places in other regions
- Samcheok Cheoneunsa Temple (천은사(삼척)) · Gangwon-do
- Bonghwa Cheongnyangsa Temple (청량사(봉화)) · Gyeongsangbuk-do
- Hadong Ssanggyesa Temple (쌍계사(하동)) · Gyeongsangnam-do
- Bongwonsa Temple · Seoul
- Girimsa Temple · Gyeongsangbuk-do
Source: Korea Tourism Organization TourAPI