Jogyesa

Jogyesa
Korean name
Hangul	조계사
Hanja	曹溪寺
Revised Romanization	Jogyesa
McCune–Reischauer	Chogyesa

Jogyesa is the chief temple of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, becoming so in 1936. It thus plays a leading role in the current state of Seon Buddhism in South Korea. The temple was first established in 1395, at the dawn of the Joseon Dynasty; the modern temple was founded in 1910 and initially called "Hwanggaksa." The name was changed to "Taegosa" during the period of Japanese rule, and then to the present name in 1954.

Jogyesa is located in Gyeonji-dong, Jongno-gu, in downtown Seoul. Natural monument No. 9, an ancient white pine tree, is located within the temple grounds. Jogyesa Temple is located in one of the most popular cultural streets in Seoul, Insa-dong. Very close to the palace of Gyeongbokgung.

The Jogyesa Temple used to be known as Gakhwangsa Temple which was founded in 1395. During the Japanese colonial invasion the temple become one of the strongest fortresses of Korean Buddhism in 1910-1945. Gakhawangsa Temple emerged as the temple of the resistance to Japanese efforts to suppress Korean Buddhism. In 1937, a movement for the establishment of a Central Headquarters began which was successful with the building of the Main Buddha Hall of Jogyesa Temple in Seoul in 1938

The temple became known as Taegosa Temple in 1938 and by its current name of Jogyesa Temple in 1954. The name Jogyesa Temple was chosen to denote the structure's status as the main temple of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism ( Buddhist sect which combines and integrates the Korean Zen and Textual Schools of Buddhism.) Korean Jogye Order has 1700 years of history and is the Korean Buddhism Order most representative. Surkgahmohnee doctrine and teachings of the Buddha Jogye order is based and focuses on the mind and the nature of this.

The Daeoongjeong (Main Buddha Hall) was constructed in 1938 of pine wood from Baekdusan Mountain in North Korea, and it’s always filled with the sounds of chanting. In the main temple courtyard there are two trees which are 500 years old, a White Pine and a Chinese Scholar tree.

The White Pine tree is about 10 meters high and gave the nearby area “Su-Song Dong” its name (Song means pine tree in Korean). This tree was brought by Chinese missionaries during the Joseon Dynasty. This pine tree sits besides the main hall of the Jogyesa Temple, and its branch towards the main hall is only partially alive. One side of this tree is adjacent to the passage, while the other side sits next to the building. Therefore, because the area is inadequate for the tree to grow, the Lacebark pine is not preserved well and since the Lacebark pine is a rare tree species and is valuable in biology, it is designated and protected as a Natural Monument.

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Wikipedia