Overview
Wontongsa [圓通寺] is a directly administered temple of Jogyesa Temple, the first district of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, located on Dobongsan Mountain in Dobong-gu, Seoul. Since ancient times, Wontongsa Temple has been known as a place for spiritual practice and prayer, situated on the most auspicious site of Dobongsan, overlooking the Han River, with Suraksan and Samgaksan on both sides. In the early Joseon period, Buddhist monks such as Master Muhak, and in modern times, monks such as Mangong, Dongsan, and Chunseong stayed here and gained great enlightenment. For many, it is also famous as a meditation site for the Avalokitesvara prayer ceremony. Additionally, Jo Hyeon-myeong and Seo Myeong-gyun, who served as Chief State Councillors during King Yeongjo's reign, discussed national affairs and cultivated their minds and bodies, making it a famous place among Confucian scholars of the time. Currently, within the temple grounds there is a cave where King Taejo Yi Seong-gye of Joseon prayed, and on a large rock below the Yaksan Shrine, there is an inscription called Sanggongam [相公岩], which says that on the day Taejo finished his prayer, he dreamed of becoming a heavenly high official (prime minister) and worshipping the Jade Emperor. Meanwhile, the rock behind the temple, called Uiam, is depicted as Guanyin Bodhisattva praying to the Buddha, and was originally called 'Guanyin Peak.' A closer look at the surrounding natural terrain reveals rocks shaped like tigers, elephants, cranes, and other animals bowing their heads toward these rocks. Perhaps for this reason, people believe this place is a paradise for Avalokiteshvara.
