Sangwonsa () is a Buddhist temple located in Pyeongchang County, Gangwon-do, South Korea. It is located within Odaesan National Park.
The temple was first founded in 705 by two Silla-era princes, Bocheon (ë³´ì²Â; 寶å·Â) and Hyomyeong (è몠; Ã¥ÂÂæÂÂ), in which according to the Samguk Yusa, these two princes each founded a hermitage on the spots where they saw a blue lotus blooming. Initially called Jinyeowon (ì§Âì“ÂÂ; çÂÂå¦Âé¢), the temple name changed to Sangwonsa during the Goryeo dynasty, when it underwent a major renovation. The temple was spared during the suppression of Buddhism of the Joseon dynasty; instead, it underwent expansion, with new buildings being built on the orders of King Taejong. King Sejo also had a deep relationship with this temple, who not only helped to renovate and expand, but also donated items such as bowls and clothing, as well as a set of Tripitaka Koreana, and even gathered monks to meditate together. Because of this, Sangwonsa enjoyed tax-exemption benefits throughout the Joseon dynasty per the will of King Sejo.
In 1946, the temple was burnt down after a fire accidentally broke out. It was rebuilt in 1947 by Lee Jong-wook (ì´좠ì±; æÂÂé¾éÂÂ), the head priest of Woljeongsa. During the Korean War, as UN troops retreated from the north, Walton Walker and Kim Baek-il [<nowiki/>], who were commanders of the U.S. 8th Army and Republic of Korea Army I Corps respectively, ordered a scorched earth policy of the area. The monk Hanam (ÃÂÂìÂÂ; æ¼¢å·Â) prevented the temple from destruction by vowing to defend it with his life, and in the end the troops decided to remove a few doors and burn them instead, to create the illusion of the temple being burned; both the monk and the officers decision had spared the loss of cultural heritage.
The temple grounds contains the following: