Goyang Heungguksa Temple

Heungguksa Temple was founded in AD 661 by the renowned monk Wonhyo. While practicing on nearby Bukhansan Mountain, Wonhyo followed an auspicious light to this site, where he discovered a stone statue of the Bhaisajyaguru Buddha. Believing the location was destined for greatness, he built a temple here and named it Heungseongam, predicting that many saints would emerge from its grounds. Though much of its early history is unrecorded, the temple saw significant development during the 17th and 18th centuries. Throughout the late 19th century, dedicated monks continued to rebuild and expand the grounds, adding several key halls and sacred art that remain part of the temple’s enduring legacy.