Seongdeoksa Temple성덕사

About

Seongdeoksa Temple stands at the foot of Bonghwasan Mountain in Sangbong-dong, Jungnang-gu, tucked into an alley in a dense residential area. It was built in 1957, and its buildings include Daeungjeon Hall, a bell pavilion, Chilseonggak Hall, Samsingak Hall and Mireukjeon Hall. Because it is in a residential neighborhood, it supports the religious life of local residents and takes part in community service. The site is said to have been a land of strong energy, with a legend of "Aedongji" (a winter solstice that falls in the early part of the 11th lunar month). According to the legend, an old man was cutting wood halfway up the mountain. No matter how many trees he cut down, they stood upright again, so he fled to the village in fright. When he told the villagers what had happened, a monk who had stopped by the village for alms said that the place was filled with the grudges of many people. He told them to offer devoted prayers to ease those grudges and not to make or eat red bean porridge on Aedongji. The villagers paid little attention to the monk, but a widow with four children offered prayers every year as he had asked. Later, when an epidemic spread widely through the village, the widow's children did not fall ill and grew up healthy. It is said that just before she died, the widow called all her descendants together and told them they must keep offering the prayers. After Korea's liberation in 1945, people began gathering in this area to build houses and settle. Strangely, rafters would collapse or pillars would sink whenever construction took place. When the Jogye Order built the temple, the ox carrying the timber died and several workers were injured. After the temple was completed, however, no one was hurt in unexpected accidents anymore. Longtime locals say this is because Seongdeoksa offers the prayers on their behalf.