Gounsa

Gounsa is a head temple of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism. It is located in Danchon-myeon, Uiseong County, in the province of North Gyeongsang, South Korea.

==History== The temple was built in 681 C.E. by Uisang, a leading Buddhist monk of Silla. The name means "lonely cloud"; these characters were chosen after the temple was visited by scholar Ch'oe Ch'i-wŏn. The temple had previously been known by the same name, but with the meaning of "high cloud." Ch'oe later designed the temple's Gaunru and Uhwa-ru pavilions. The complex was significantly expanded by Doseon-guksa during the reign of King Heongang of Silla, and included 366 buildings and over 200 monks. It was also during this time that the temple's resident Stone Seated Buddha, which was subsequently designated as a national treasure, was produced. During the Goryeo Dynasty, the temple was reconstructed in 948 and 1018.