Jeondeungsa Temple강화 전등사

At a glance

Jeondeungsa stands within Samnangseong, a stone fortress on Ganghwa Island that legend credits to the three sons of Dangun. Temple tradition says the monk Ado founded it in 381 as Jinjongsa; it took its present name, 'temple of the transmitted lamp', after a Goryeo queen gave it scriptures and a jade lamp. Fire leveled it in 1614 and it was rebuilt by 1621. The main hall Daeungjeon, the Yaksajeon hall and a bronze bell are Treasures of Korea, the grounds hold the Jeongjok archive, where the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty were once stored, and a monument honors General Yang Heon-su, who drove off French troops here in 1866.

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Jeondeungsa Temple · 4 tours & tickets

1. GetYourGuideAegibong, Jeondeungsa and Ganghwa luge small-group tourA small-group day tour from Seoul: Aegibong Peace Eco Park with its view toward North Korea, about 70 minutes at Jeondeungsa Temple and the Ganghwa luge, with lunch.Book
2. GetYourGuidePrivate Ganghwa Island heritage tour from SeoulA private tour of about 10 hours from Seoul around Ganghwa Island's heritage sites, with Jeondeungsa among the stops you can choose.Book
3. Trip.comGanghwa tidal flat & makgeolli private tourA private day tour from Seoul with a guide, driver and lunch to Ganghwa Island sights such as Jeondeungsa Temple and the Dongmak Beach tidal flat, plus makgeolli brewing.Book
4. KKdayGanghwa Island private tourAn 11-hour private tour from Seoul around Ganghwa Island, including the Ganghwa Peace Observatory, the dolmen site, the Anglican church and Jeondeungsa Temple.Book

Places to stay nearby

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Map

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Tips

• 01
  Besides the main hall, look for the Yang Heon-su victory monument on the east-gate side of the grounds.
• 02
  Short on time? The day-type temple stay is designed as a brief taste of Korean Buddhist culture.

Nearby

Ganghwa LugeGravity-powered luge carts on two 1.8 km tracks at Ganghwa Seaside Resort, with tunnels, drops and a 360° spiral.Ganghwa Dolmen SitesBronze Age stone tombs on Ganghwa Island, led by the huge table-style Bugeun-ri dolmen, part of a UNESCO World Heritage listing.Aegibong Peace EcoparkA hilltop peace park on the Han River estuary in Gimpo, where Jogang Observatory looks across the water to North Korea.Yeongjong Seaside Rail BikeA rail bike along the shore of Seaside Park on Yeongjongdo, with sea views stretching from Wolmido to Incheon Bridge.