Ancient temple with one-thousand-year history SeokJongsa Temple Seokjongsa is a beautiful place where you can see all the stars in the sky in front of the dharma hall. It was established some time between the end of the Silla Dynasty and the early period of the Goryeo Dynasty. After that, for more than one thousand years it was a temple for Buddhists to pray and practice. Unfortunately, during the policy of severe Buddhism suppression in the late Joseon Dynasty, Governor Jo, Gyeongro destroyed the temple and built Cheongnyeongheon (a government building). After that, only a 5-story stone stupa guarded this site all alone until the temple perished completely during the Japanese colonial period. Then about 25 years ago Seon Master Hyeguk Sunim in Seokjongsa started by buying 800 pyeong (1 pyeong = 3.3 square meters) of orchard, and the present site is approximately 100,000 pyeong. There are currently 18 buildings at Seokjongsa, including the Great Hero Hall, a Seon center for monks, and a meditation hall for laymen. Seokjongsa is regarded as one of the most beautiful and culturally valuable of recently-built temples. Every year, during winter and summer retreats, about 130 ordained and lay Buddhists practice meditation here.