Singyesa, Buddhist temple in Onjong-ri, Kosong County, North Korea

Singyesa is a Buddhist temple in Onjong-ri, Kosong County, on Mount Kumgang, rebuilt between 2004 and 2006 after its destruction in 1951. Its shrines, living quarters and kitchens are arranged around a courtyard fronting the main prayer hall, Taeung Hall. The entrance gate sits beneath Manse Pavilion, a two-storey structure with storage below and a meditation room above.

Founded in 519 during the Silla Dynasty, the temple grew as a religious center through the centuries. It was destroyed in 1951 by military aircraft during the Korean War, leading to its eventual reconstruction.

The temple holds deep meaning for Buddhist practitioners who visit from across the peninsula. Walking through its reconstructed spaces today offers insight into how monks and pilgrims have gathered here for centuries.

The temple sits on a mountain and requires some walking from the nearest road to reach. Visitors should prepare for steep terrain and traditional architecture that demands careful navigation when exploring.

The Silla stone pagoda in the courtyard is the only artifact that survived the 1951 firebombing; everything around it is a reconstruction. Its panels carry relief carvings of Buddhist guardian deities, and the monument is set on a stepped platform of rectangular blocks beneath a tall shaft with a narrow recess.