The first record of a Seonangdang is in the Goryeosa, a history book written about the Goryeo Dynasty in the 15th century. According to the book, in the reign of King Munjong of Goryeo, a 'Seonghwangsa', meaning 'Temple of Seonghwang', was constructed. In the Goryeo Dynasty, the best-known Seonangdang was in the town of Jeonju. King Gojong believed that the many defeats of the Mongols in the Mongol invasions of Korea were because the Seonangshin aided the Koreans.