Hwagyesa Temple
Distance: About 13km away from Seoul by car
Address: 487, Suyu 1-dong, Gangbuk-gu, Seoul, Korea
Hwagye Temple lies within the city limits and yet it keeps an air of tranquility being surrounded by scenic landscape and luxuriant forest. Yet it was not until recently that the temple became well-known to the public. As Seon (Zen) monk Hyeongak, who authored, Manhaeng (travelling practice) - From Harvard to Hwagye Temple,became well-known, Hwagye Temple, where he practiced, sprang into fame. It became known as the temple where a foreign monk resides, so strange and unfamiliar at that time. In particular, monk Hyeongak opened Seoul International Zen Center in Hwagye Temple, to enable foreign practitioners to practice Seon meditation while staying at a Korean temple.