Yongjusa Temple

Yongjusa is the temple King Jeongjo of Joseon rebuilt to console the spirit of his father, Crown Prince Sado, who died a cruel death. Because it served as the guardian temple of Sado's royal tomb, it is a mountain temple with traces of palace architecture. It sits close to the Yungneung and Geolleung royal tombs in Hwaseong, so it fits neatly into a day following Jeongjo's story of filial devotion.

History: from a ruined temple to a temple of filial piety

The site was first home to Garyangsa, founded in 854 under King Munseong of Silla. In the Goryeo period it was a temple where prayers were offered for the state, but it burned down during the Manchu invasion of 1636 and lay in ruins for a long time.

In the 13th year of his reign, Jeongjo moved his father's tomb from Mt. Baebongsan in Seoul to Hwaseong and built a new temple on the old Garyangsa site. He is said to have been deeply moved by the monk Boil, who explained to him the Sutra of Parental Benevolence. According to tradition, the night before the temple was finished Jeongjo dreamt of a dragon rising to the sky with a jewel in its mouth, so he named it Yongjusa, the "Temple of the Dragon's Jewel". It is one of the rare cases in which the Joseon royal house supported a Buddhist temple directly. Today it is the head temple of the 2nd district of the Jogye Order, overseeing temples across southern Gyeonggi.

What to see

• Cheonboru Pavilion: A two-storey pavilion on the same axis as the main hall, built in 1790. Its side corridors follow the layout of palace buildings, and it was designated a Treasure in February 2026. You walk underneath it to reach the inner courtyard, so pause and look up.
• Daeungbojeon: The main hall, also from around 1790 and a Treasure. Its double eaves and rich dancheong paintwork show the dignity of royal architecture in a temple setting.
• Bronze Bell of Yongjusa (National Treasure): A large bell about 1.44 m tall and weighing around 1.5 tonnes. Look for the dragon on top holding a jewel and the flying celestial figures and Buddha triads on the body. An inscription dates it to 854, but it was added later, and scholars date the bell to the early Goryeo period.
• Woodblocks of the Sutra of Parental Benevolence (Treasure): Carved at Jeongjo's request to spread the idea of filial piety. Related objects are shown in the temple's Filial Piety Museum.
• Five-storey stone pagoda: Look for the stone pagoda in the courtyard in front of the main hall.

Good to know

Crown Prince Sado was locked in a wooden rice chest on the orders of his father, King Yeongjo, and died after eight days. After taking the throne, Jeongjo moved his father's tomb, built Hwaseong Fortress and a temporary palace nearby, and even laid a new road and a stone bridge to shorten his journeys to the tomb. Yongjusa is one piece of this huge project of filial devotion, which is why you will see the character for filial piety (hyo, 孝) all over the temple.

Tripto tips

• Combine with: The Yungneung and Geolleung tombs, where Sado and Jeongjo rest, are a few minutes away by car. Tombs in the morning and the temple in the afternoon makes an easy route, and adding Hwaseong Fortress in Suwon completes Jeongjo's story in one day.
• Time needed: About an hour is enough for the grounds and the museum.
• Opening: The Filial Piety Museum is closed on Mondays. Fees and hours can change, so check the temple's website before you go.
• Getting there: Take Seoul Subway Line 1 and change to a local bus. There is a car park if you drive.
• Templestay: The temple runs templestay programmes open to Koreans and foreign visitors.