Though it is unknown when the temple was founded, popular tales date it to the end of the Goguryeo period. The temple was completely rebuilt under the
Joseon dynasty. Under the
Japanese occupation of Korea, the temple became a major tourist site in Pyongyang and was renowned for its beautiful riverside location and many cherry trees. In the 1920s it again underwent an extensive restoration funded by the Japanese government, who also officially changed its name to the Japanese reading of its
Hanja: "Eimei-ji". During that time, the temple was also confiscated from by the government, and given for use as a headquarters for the
Rinzai sect of Japanese
Zen Buddhism. The Rinzai monks were tasked with converting the citizens away from traditional
Korean Buddhism as part of a government program to replace the old Korean culture with that of modern
Japan. The historic temple was destroyed during the U.S.
carpet bombings of Pyongyang during the Korean War. The only building of the temple now standing is
Pubyŏk Pavilion, a scenic lookout which was reconstructed after the war and was known for its beautiful views of the
Taedong River; its stone pagoda and octagonal shrine also survived the bombings, and all three are registered as
National Treasures of North Korea. The temple ran the
Pobun Hermitage, located on
Mt. Ryongak in
Mangyŏngdae-guyŏk. In 2012 the
Korean Central News Agency reported the "reconfirmation" of
Lair of King Tongmyong's Unicorn, from Yongmyongsa. The discovery is credited to the History Institute of the DPRK, and the report states that "Unicorn Lair" is carved on a rock at the site. The report of the discovery also states this "proves that Pyongyang was a capital city of Ancient Korea". ==References==