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Won Buddhism – 원불교
History of Won Buddhism Won Buddhism is a modern religion founded in the 20th century. And it’s either a new syncretic religion or a reformed Buddhism. Won Buddhism means “circle” in English. Or more precisely and literally, “Round Buddhism.” The stated goal of Won Buddhism is for people to realize the innate Buddha nature in all of us and to help save other sentient beings by serving them. That’s why an emphasis is placed on the interactions we have in our daily lives. Won Buddhism was first founded by Pak Chung-bin (1891-1943). He was known as Great Master Sotaesan. And he attained enlightenment in 1916. Initially, Sotaesan didn’t specifically set…
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Cheontae Order – 천태종
History of the Cheontae Order Cheontae Buddhism is a descendant of Tiantai. Cheontae Buddhism was first introduced a few times to the Korean peninsula after it was first established in China in 594 A.D. by Master Zhiyi (538-597 A.D.), or “Jiui – 지의” in Korean. Yeongwang, a Silla Kingdom monk, studied under Master Zhiyi in China from 581-597 A.D., but later returned to the Korean peninsula to teach the Cheontae teachings. Then in 730 A.D., the Silla monks Peopyung, Ieung, and Sunyeong studied the Cheontae teachings under the Master Monk Chwagye Hyeonrang. Later, they returned to Korea to transmit the Cheontae teachings. However, it wasn’t until the monk Uicheon (1055-1101),…
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Taego Order – 태고종
History of the Taego Order The Taego Order is the second largest Buddhist order in Korea behind the Jogye Order. In total, the Taego Order consists of some 3,100 temples and 8,000 monastics. The Taego Order is headquartered out of Seonamsa Temple in Suncheon, Jeollanam-do. And the name of the order derives from Taego Bou (1301-1383). Along with the monk Jinul (1158-1210), who is considered to be the founder of the Jogye Order, the two monks would help organize the various Goryeo-era Buddhist sects into one cohesive organization. And while Taego Bou is considered the co-founder of the Jogye Order, he’s also considered the sole founder of the Taego Order,…
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Jogye Order – 조계종
History of the Jogye Order The Jogye Order, which is officially known as the “Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism” in English, has its roots in the Seonjong Gusan, or “Nine Mountain Schools” in English. The Nine Mountain Schools were descended from Chan Buddhism in China. This developed during Unified Silla (668-935 A.D.) during the ninth century and is known as Seon Buddhism in Korea. In fact, these Nine Mountain Schools would adopt the name of “Jogye-jong” in reference to Caoxi. Caoxi is the home village where Nanhua Temple is located, which was the home temple where Sixth Patriarch Huineng (638-713 A.D.) lived and taught. Jogye is a transliteration of Caoxi.…
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Sumisan Sect – Gwangjosa-ji Temple Site (Haeju, Hwanghae-do, North Korea)
The Sumisan sect was located at the Gwangjosa-ji Temple Site in Haeju, Hwanghae-do, North Korea. The Sumisan sect was established by the monk Ieom-daesa (866-932 A.D.). Ieom-daesa’s family name was Kim, and he was born in 866 A.D. At the age of twelve, he became a monk at Gapsa Temple in Gongju, Chungcheongnam-do. He would receive his precepts under the monk Deongnyang. In 894 A.D., Ieom-daesa would travel to Tang China (618–690, 705–907 A.D.) and receive the dharma from Yunju Daoying (830-902 A.D.), who was the head disciple of the monk Dongshan Liangjia (807-869 A.D.). Ieom-daesa would return to Silla in 911 A.D., where he resided at Seunggwangsa Temple in…
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Bongnimsan Sect – Bongnimsa-ji Temple Site (Changwon, Gyeongsangnam-do)
The Bongnimsa sect was located at the Bongnimsa-ji Temple Site in present-day Changwon, Gyeongsangnam-do. The founder of this sect was Hyeonuk (787-868 A.D.). The temple was first founded during the reign of King Hyogong of Silla (r. 897-912 A.D.). Hyeonuk’s family name was Kim, and he was from Dongmyeong. His father was the vice minister of defence, and his name was Kim Yeomgyun. His mother belonged to the Bak clan. Hyeonuk was born in 787 A.D., and he used to build sand stupas since the time he was a little boy, so people used to say that he would eventually become a great Buddhist monk. When Hyeonuk grew up, he…
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Huiyangsan Sect – Bongamsa Temple (Mungyeong, Gyeongsangbuk-do)
The Huiyangsan sect is located at the Bongamsa Temple on Mt. Huiyangsan in Mungyeong in present-day Gyeongsangbuk-do. The sect was founded by Jijeung Doheon (824-882 A.D.). Doheon’s family name was Kim, and his mother’s family name was Yun. He originally came from Gyeongju, and his posthumous name is Jijeung. Doheon first studied the Hwaeom doctrinal teachings from the monk Beomche. Doheon would be taught Seon Buddhism by a Korean teacher who learned under Mazu Daoyi (709-788 A.D.). One of Doheon’s lay-supporters, Sim Chung, asked him to found Bongamsa Temple, which would help to expand and popularize the Seon sect. Among his disciples were Seonggyeon, Minhyu, and hundreds of others who…
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Sajasan Sect – Heungnyeongsa-ji Temple Site (Yeongwol, Gangwon-do)
The Sajasan sect was located at Heungnyeongsa-ji Temple Site in Yeongwol, Gangwon-do. Now the temple is known as Beopheungsa Temple, and it’s also a Jeokmyeol-bogung site (a shrine containing sari relics of the Historical Buddha, Seokgamoni-bul, as established by the monk Jajang-yulsa), as well. The temple was first founded by the monk Doyun (798-868 A.D.). Doyun’s posthumous name is Cheolgam. For the longest time, Doyun resided at Ssangbongsa Temple in Hwasun, Jeollanam-do. For this reason, Doyun is also known as Ssangbong. Doyun’s family name was Bak, and his mother was from the Go clan. Before Doyun was born, his mother had a dream. In this dream, the sleeping chamber she…
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Seongjusan Sect – Seongjusa-ji Temple Site (Boryeong, Chungcheongnam-do)
The Seongjusan sect was located out of present-day Boryeong, Chungcheongnam-do at Seongjusa Temple. According to Prof. David Mason, this temple was already established in 616 A.D. through the orders of King Mu of Baekje (r. 600-641 A.D.). The temple was originally named Ohapsa Temple. The reason for this name was to help commemorate the recent victory over the neighbouring Silla and to pray for the souls of soldiers that had died during the conflict. As Prof. Mason points out on his website, “The Samguk-Yusa records that in 659, during the reign of the final King Uija (의자왕), a ‘Red Goblin’ (hong dokkebi) was seen circumambulating this temple 6 times (an…
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Dongnisan Sect – Taeansa Temple (Gokseong, Jeollanam-do)
The Dongnisan sect was founded at Taeansa Temple in Gokseong in present-day Jeollanam-do. The temple was first founded by Master Hyecheol (785-861 A.D.). Hyecheol’s family name was Bak, and he was from Gyeongju. He was born in 785 A.D., and he became a monk at Buseoksa Temple. In 814 A.D., he traveled to Tang China (618–690, 705–907 A.D.) to help further his Buddhist studies. There, he received the dharma from Zhizang (735-814 A.D.). Master Hyecheol returned to Silla in 839 A.D., where he started to lecture at Mt. Dongnisan. In 861 A.D., Master Hyecheol died. His posthumous name is Jeokin, and his stupa’s name, which can be found at Taeansa…