Yonghwasa (), sometimes Dragon Pool Temple, is a Buddhist temple in Yongdamdong, Yongyeon (龍淵) region in

Jeju City Jeju City ( ko, 제주시, Jeju-si; ) is the capital of the Jeju Province in South Korea and the largest city on Jeju Island. The city is served by Jeju International Airport ( IATA code CJU). Located on an island off the Korean Peninsula, Jej ...

South Korea South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and sharing a Korean Demilitarized Zone, land border with North Korea. Its western border is formed ...

. The temple, set within a walled compound and located on the west side of Cheju Castle, contains a phallic shrine which was visited by female pilgrims who came to worship it for its alleged fertility blessings. The phallic stone is made from granite, quite small in size, and white, and was reportedly found in a nearby field by a farmer. The phallic statue is called "Dongjabul" which means "Little Buddha". The statue at the western pillar is called "Seojabok" and its prayer days are February 15th and November 15th in the lunar calendar.

History

Originally a temple called Haeryun Temple () was built at the site during the 13th century. The temple was destroyed in 1702 as part of the effort of the Joseon Dynasty to suppress Buddhism. In the 1960s, the temple was renamed "Yonghwasa" (龍華寺).

References

Buddhist temples in South Korea Jeju City Fertility deities Phallic monuments {{Korea-reli-stub