Yongjusa

Unlike most temples, which are usually located in fairly isolated spots in the mountains or else smack in the midst of a city, Yongjusa can be found on the outskirts of Suwon, in Hwaseong. Built during the Shilla Dynasty (57 B.C.-A.D. 935), the original temple was destroyed during one of the many wars during the Goryeo Dynasty. But after a visit to his father's nearby grave, King Jeongjo spent the night here and dreamed of a dragon with a red jewel in its mouth (an image common in Buddhist art). Seeing it as an auspicious sign, he had a new temple built here in 1790 as a place to offer prayers to his father, Prince Sado. The highlights here include the dragon motifs, a massive bronze bell cast in A.D. 854 (one of only three such bells left in the country), and a mural of a tiger smoking a pipe, which is a prime example of the shamanistic influence on Korean Buddhism. The blocks on which the Filial Piety Sutra is carved are housed at the temple, along with other museum-quality pieces. A 20-minute walk will bring you to the royal tombs, where Jeongjo and Sado are buried. You can also do a temple stay here, if you wish.