Ganghwa Seonwonsa Temple Site (강화 선원사지)

19.9Km 2022-09-19

222, Seonwonsaji-ro, Ganghwa-gun, Incheon
+82-32-933-8234

Ganghwa Seonwonsa Temple Site was first discovered in 1976 during a surface examination around Ganghwado Island undertaken by the Ganghwado Island Academic Research Team of Dongguk University. The site was designated as Historic Site No. 259 in 1977. Seonwonsa Temple was built by General Choi Wu in 1245 (the 32nd year of King Gojong’s reign during the Goryeo dynasty), which was right after the transfer of the capital to Ganghwado during resistance against the Mongolian invasion.

The temple was meant to be a spiritual mainstay in fighting against Mongolia. It used to be one of the two largest temples in Korea along with Songgwangsa Temple. However, the temple was completely destroyed during the early Joseon era, leaving only the site itself. The famous wood blocks of Palman Daejanggyeong (the Tripitaka Koreana), currently housed in Haeinsa Temple at Hapcheon, are said to have been originally stored in Seonwonsa Temple. It is believed that the carved wood blocks were taken from Seonwonsa to Heungcheonsa Temple during the Joseon era and again moved to Haeinsa Temple during the reign of Sejo.

Located on a mountain slope, the presumed location of the building site extends 250 meters from south to north and 170 meters from east to west.

Joyang Bangjik Cafe (조양방직)

19.9Km 2023-11-13

12 Hyangnamu-gil 5beon-gil, Ganghwa-gun, Incheon
+82-32-933-2192

Joyang Bangjik, which means Joyang Textile in English, was the first rayon factory established with domestic funds in 1933 in Ganghwa, but were closed down as Ganghwa textiles declined over the years. The empty building was left in ruins until it became renovated as a huge cafe. A demolished wall became a wonderful art gallery and movie theater, a long workbench was turned into a coffee table, and the space where machines and people worked was filled with antiques found in China and Europe. A British door with a broken window, a round mirror from an old train in the Czech Republic, and a fish-shaped bun machine that struggled to turn itself over every winter are naturally arranged as if they were there originally, giving an impression of time throughout the cafe by utilizing the factory and building frame of more than 990 square meters. Currently, various drinks and cakes are offered.

Ganghwahyanggyo Confucian School (강화향교)

20.0Km 2020-06-29

58, Hyanggyo-gil, Ganghwa-gun, Incheon
+82-32-930-4571

First established in Ganghwa-eup during the 5th year of King Injong in the Goryeo dynasty (1127), Ganghwahyanggyo Confucian School was moved to Ganghwa-gun and then restored at the foot of Buksan Mountain (formally Songaksan Mountain) in 1624 by Sim Yeol during the 2nd year of King Injo.

Ganghwahyanggyo Confucian School is regarded as an important cultural and historical site in Ganghwa-eup.

Ganghwa Seonwonsa Temple Site (강화 선원사지) - Area information - Korea travel information