Winter at Yongjusa Temple in Hwasan (Songsan-ri, Taean-eup, Hwaseong-si)

According to a story about Yongjusa Temple, Garyangsa Temple was founded in 854 (the 16th year of the reign of King Munseong of Silla), and destroyed during the invasion of the Qing Dynasty of China in 1636-1637. During the late Joseon period King Jeongjo (r. 1776-1800) relocated the tomb of his father Prince Sado from Yangju to Hwasan, and re-founded the temple so he could to pray for the everlasting peace of his deceased father there. King Jeongjo felt deeply sorry for his ill-fated father, who was executed at the order of his own father, King Yeongjo, at the age of 28. At that time, Monk Bogyeong’s sermon moved him so deeply that he decided to build a temple to console his deceased father’s spirit. The tomb newly built in Hwasan was named Hyeolleungwon (and later renamed as Yungneung). He had Monk Bogyeong pray for his deceased father at the temple. During the night of the day on which the ceremony for the completion of the temple was held, King Jeongjo is said to have seen a dragon clasping a magic bead in its mouth rise up to the sky in his dream. Thus, the temple was named Yongjusa.