Heungwangsa Temple | Attraction Guide | K-Travel Mate

Heungwangsa Temple is a Goryeo Dynasty temple located between Geumdangcheon, which flows to the lower part of Silleuksa, and Wanjangcheon, which crosses Jungam-ri, settled on a low hill. It is said to have been founded by Sodal (蘇達) in early Goryeo or established by Hyegun (1351–1374) in late Goryeo, but the exact details are unknown. Heungwangsa is a sister temple to Yeoju's famous Godalsa and carries the old legend of Sodal and Godal. Godal and Sodal were brothers who each vowed to devote themselves to Buddha and became monks. However, their intentions differed: Godal built a temple to help the nation, while Sodal founded a temple as a place of truth to enlighten sentient beings for a long time. Godal's Godalsa was once a renowned temple but was abandoned early, while Sodal's Sangwangsa quietly continued its teachings and still maintains its Buddhist light. Thus, Sodal's Heungwangsa holds the image of a small hermitage devoted to enlightening sentient beings, embodying a place of truth.