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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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Botapsa Temple – 보탑사 (Jincheon, Chungcheongbuk-do)
Temple History Botapsa Temple is located in Yeongok-ri in Jincheon, Chungcheongbuk-do. The name Yeongok means “lotus flower” in Korean. And the reason that the area is called this is because of the nine peaks surrounding the area, which resembles a lotus flower. As for the temple name, it means “Jewel Pagoda Temple” in English. The present temple is located on a former temple site that was long thought to have been one of the largest temples built during the Three Kingdoms of Korea (18 B.C – 660 A.D.) and through to the Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392). More recently, and in 1988, a three-story wooden pagoda was built on the temple grounds.…
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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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Baegyangsa Temple – 백양사 (Jangseong, Jeollanam-do)
Temple History Baegyangsa Temple is located in Naejangsan National Park in Jangseong, Jeollanam-do in a valley between Mt. Daegaksan (529.8 m) to the southeast and Mt. Baegamsan (741.2 m) to the northwest. Baegyangsa Temple was first founded in 632 A.D. during the Baekje Kingdom (18 B.C. – 660 A.D.). Originally, when the temple was first constructed, it was called Baegamsa Temple. Later, and during the Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392), the temple changed its name to Jeongtosa Temple in 1034. The name of the temple at this time was in reference to the Pure Land in Buddhism, or “Jeongto” in Korean. The temple would change its name, once more, this time to…
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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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Yonghwasa Temple – 용화사 (Cheongju, Chungcheongbuk-do)
Temple History Yonghwasa Temple is located in downtown Cheongju, Chungcheongbuk-do next to the Musimcheon Stream. The current Yonghwasa Temple was established in 1902. However, as a result of excavation work conducted by the Cheongju National Museum in 1992 near the Yonghwasa Temple grounds, it was confirmed that a larger temple existed in the area from the late Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392). As for the name of the temple, Yonghwasa Temple, it’s related to the belief that Mireuk-bul (The Future Buddha) will be reborn under a dragon flower tree upon his return as a Buddha. Yonghwasa Temple is home to Korean Treasure #985, the Stone Buddhas of Yonghwasa Temple. The seven statues…
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Yongamsa Temple – 용암사 (Okcheon, Chungcheongbuk-do)
Temple History Yongamsa Temple in Okcheon, Chungcheongbuk-do is located on the northern side of Mt. Jangryeongam (654.5 m). Yongamsa Temple was first established in 552 A.D. by the monk Uisin. This is the very same monk that would go on to establish the famed Beopjusa Temple one year later in 553 A.D. In a twist, Yongamsa Temple is now a branch temple of Beopjusa Temple. Yongamsa Temple means “Dragon Rock Temple” in English. The temple was named after a dragon-like rock that once resided on the temple grounds. However, the Yongbawi Rock was destroyed by the Japanese, and only a trace of the rock still remains to this day. In…
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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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Chukseosa Temple – 축서사 (Bonghwa, Gyeongsangbuk-do)
Temple History Chukseosa Temple is located in Bonghwa, Gyeongsangbuk-do to the west of Mt. Munsusan (1,207.3). Chukseosa Temple was first founded in 673 A.D. by the famed monk Uisang-daesa (625-702 A.D.). The name of the temple, “Chukseo” is in reference to Mt. Yeongchuksan. And Mt. Yeongchuksan means “Vulture Peak,” or “Holy Eagle Peak” in English. This was the site where the Buddha gave certain sermons in India. Among these sermons are the Heart Sutra and the Lotus Sutra. More specifically, the “Chukseo” in the temple name is in reference to eagles and how eagles mean wisdom in Buddhism. And this wisdom is in reference to the Bodhisattva of Wisdom, Munsu-bosal,…