Kumsan-sa or Gold Mountain Temple is located on Mt. Moak-san near Chonju.

Originally built in 600 CE, according to the temple records 38 monks were ordained at the temple in that same year. After numerous destructions and rebuildings, the present buildings were erected in 1635 after the others were destroyed in the Hideyoshi Invasion of the 16th century. There are many treasures which pre-date the present buildings. The temple is now one of the principle centers of the region and one of the biggest in Korea.

Master Chinp'yo (known around 742-780) was responsible for the construction of the temple from 762 to 766 when he enlarged the existing number of buildings. According to a legend, Master Chinp'yo, after returning from China, had a vision of Maitreya Buddha and he received a book on divination in two rolls and 189 divination sticks from Maitreya. This book on divination then became the principal authority on the subject in Korea. And due to this, King Kyongdok invited the master to his palace in order to receive instruction and predictions.

Master Chinp'yo decided to build a temple to Maitreya and call it Kumsan-sa. On his way, he met a dragon king who presented the master with a robe of jade and guided him to Kum-san forest. There, miraculously, men and women from everywhere came to help. The temple was built in a few days and when it was completed, Maitreya came to give Chinp'yo his final ordination.

In memory of this event, Chinp'yo created a Maitreya Buddha Hall, the focal point of Kumsan-sa. After that, the master set up a platform and taught the people well.