Songgwangsa
Encyclopedia
Songgwangsa one of the three jewels of Korean Buddhism
, is located in Jeollanam-do
on the Korean Peninsula
. Situated approximately 18 miles (29 km) away from the sea, it is within the Jogyesan Provincial Park. This monastery, though under the jurisdiction of the Chogye Order in Seoul
, functions as an autonomous body. It controls a network of 49 small branch temples whose abbots are chosen from among the monks of the main monastery and who also enjoy a fair degree on independence as long as they function as independent economic units without depending on the main monastery. It serves as the head temple for the 21st district of the Jogye Order
among the 25 head monasteries of the order. Songgwangsa, one of the oldest Zen temples in Korea, is still very active today as a practice center.
While originally founded in 867, it was established in 1190 by Zen Master Jinul
(Chinul). Chinul's meditation teachings evolved from this monastery and contributed significantly to the Zen practice that prevails to this day in Korea. Songgwangsa is considered the "jewel" (Samgharatna) of the Korean monastic community. Though smaller in size, it is considered as the greatest among the trio of the Three Jewel Temples of Korea
representing the “the jewels of the Buddha and the Dharma, its role in the development of the Korean Buddhist tradition”. The other two of the trio are T’ongdo-sa and Haein-sa.
Over the centuries, it has been rebuilt many times and is now fully restored. As it has been the residence of many monks, the monastery has an assortment of stele
and pagodas which contain the ashes of many monks. One of the oldest living quarters in Korea is located at Songgwangsa, as well as an International Zen Center that is popular with foreigners who seek the experience of living in a Zen temple. Koryo Sa, the first foreign branch of Songgwangsa, was established in Koreatown, Los Angeles, California, US in 1980 by Kusan Sunim.
in Songgwang-myeon, Suncheon
, Jeollanam-do
, South Korea
. Seonam-sa, a quieter hermitage dating to 529, lies on the eastern side of Janggunbong Mountain 884 metres (2,900.3 ft), also within the Jogyesan Provincial Park. Songgwangsa, located between Chongju and Mai-san, is accessible via Chonju city bus or taxi.
The road that accesses Songgwangsa is flanked with giant pine trees and crosses a valley with a round pavilion bridge called Cheongryanggak, designed as a place to rest.
A stream runs at the entrance to the temple and two bridges cross this stream. One of bridges has a unique architectural arch.
Also seen near the bridge are two independent small houses detached from the main the temple. There are differing versions as to why they were built. One version is that it was meant as a storehouse to keep the mortal remains for a specified period at the request of the dead. The other version is that it was used as a dressing room by the royal family after bathing to adorn their wedding dress prior to marriage. These versions and practices have been reported on in Robert Buswell's The Zen Monastic Experience (1992).
on the site that is now Songgwangsa. It was built by Son master Hyerin who also built a hermitage and lived there. It was about one hundred kan
in size (about 400 square feet (37.2 m²)), and included 30 to 40 monks. As there is no information about Hyerin, Buswell (1991) states that scholars may have devised Hyerin as a legendary figure who predated the arrival of Chinul.
Gilsangsa was abandoned for over fifty years but was reconstructed over a nine year period in the 1190s to became an important centre of Korean Buddhism and as a centre for scholarly learning of the Jeonghyegyeolsa
movement. Historical records indicate that Zen Master Chinul (Son or Hwoand Master) established Songgwangsa in 1190 on Mount Chogye. There are several legends related to the origin of the temple. However, Chinul, the national master Bojo, is said to have flown a black kite made of wood in Mt. Mohu, and where it landed he named it Chirakdae, meaning "the place where a black kite landed". The mountain was later renamed as Mount Songgwang.
The monastery has had a turbulent history, affected by the Jeongyoojaeran and the Korean War
, after the 16th century. One of the former abbots, Sokchin, wrote an anthology in 1932, based on extant references of the history of Songgwangsa. Master Kusan (1901–1983), an important disciple of Hyobong, was ordained and resided at the temple for some time in the 1940s. It has produced 16 national preceptor
s.
Saint Seokjo, during the Injong of Goryeo
era, was said to have had grand plans to expand the temple but died before his plans could take effect. The temple was rebuilt in the 17th century when Buddhism was regaining popularity. Renovations carried out after 1988 were very elaborate and extensive with original foundations as the base structure. The refurbishing involved 14 buildings including the main hall. The uniqueness of the monastery built after 1988 is unlike that of other great monasteries.
The elevation of the main temple building (Daeungbojeon), gives a double roofed appearance. The main temple or hall (Taeung-chon, "Basilica of the Great Hero"), is accessed via a single beam gate known as an ilichu-mun, and is built in the traditional style with wooden beams. It contains a shrine of Vairocana
, the Dharmakāya
Buddha
, and relics related to the Huayan school of Buddhism, illustrating the importance of this philosophy in Korean Buddhism. The main hall houses the three main statues of the past Buddha, Dipankara
, the present day Buddha, Sakyamuni, and the future Buddha, Maitreya
. The main shrine of the central temple is about 25 feet (7.6 m) high on a wooden altar but has space surrounding it so that visiting pilgrims can circumambulate around it. The entry hall contains the statues of the four heavenly kings (sach'onwang) which act as Dharma
protectors to ward off evil spirits.
To the side of the main building is the Jijangjeon, which contains a Buddha statue and the Seungbojeo, which explains its affiliation and importance to the Seon. Just below the main temple complex, which is crafted in wood, is a group of stone stelae, all measuring roughly 8 feet (2.4 m) in height, that display the history of the monastery. An ancient hitching post near this area would historically have served government officials and other eminent visitors. The nearby Drum and the Bell Tower (Chonggo-ru) houses many implements used domestically in the monastery's history. The Teaching Hall, the Masters' Portrait Hall and the residence of the Spiritual Leader are located at the highest elevation but not the main hall. Also near the Spiritual Leader’s residence is a small house with a conventional chimney that dates to the 15th century, said to belong to his deputy, and believed to be “one of the oldest living quarters in Korea."
(scroll painting) hangs behind the main image, depicting a Buddhist pantheon
. The main image deified on a wooden altar is very tall, covering the entire height from floor to the ceiling. There is also a portrait of the guardian general of Buddhism, Wit'a on one of the side walls, which is akin to 16th century portraits found in China.
The temple complex has three great treasures: the Bisari Gusi, Ssanghyangsu, and the Neunggyeonnansa. The Bisari Gusi is a massive rice container made from trees (two large Chinese juniper trees) which can contain enough rice to feed 4,000 monks. Sanghyangsu takes the form of two very large Chinese juniper trees and Neunggyeonnansa is an intricately designed plate.
month of early May) which corresponds to two weeks prior to the start of the summer retreat. On this occasion, paper lanterns or lamps with candles are lit which are strung around all the shrines within the monastery and in series of rows in the central courtyard. The most ornate type of lantern is the lotus flower type. These are usually professionally made by women monks of the subsidiary monasteries of Songgwangsa. The lanterns are also put up for sale at the main entrance of the monastery. According to a leaned monk of the Songgwangsa monastery, the practice of lantern lighting is linked to Jataka tales of Buddha's past lives. The largest lamps inside the main shrine hall have been dedicated in the past to President Park Chung Hee and his wife. Food offerings for lunch and dinner at an improvised altar and dharma lectures are a common feature on this occasion. The Songgwangsa monastery is kept open fully to the public on this day, only once every year, when Monks are seen holding guard at all the shrines and halls of the monastery, except the main mediation hall and the private rooms of the monks which are barred for public viewing. Offering of lamps on this day is considered a meritorious deed as it is said:
In the evening, lighting ceremony is held when lay people who have bought lamps or lanterns light them by placing a candle inside the lantern, at about 7.30 PM. The lighted lamps are a delightful sight to behold, walking around the monastery or viewing from the top of a nearby hill. The lamps are later put out marking the end of the ceremony.
in late January or early February, every year. The festival, which starts with New Year’s eve lasts for three days.
, in the tradition of the historical Sakyamuni Buddha; both are two 3-month meditation seasons, one in winter and the other in summer, scheduled according to the Lunar Calendar
. Normally, 120 monks attend these meditations, which are still practiced in Korean Buddhism. The number of resident monks attending the mediation practices fluctuates according to season, and generally there are about 120 monks during meditation seasons and 70 monks during the off seasons. During this period monks mediate for 12 hours, and even more severe order of continuous 24 hours period of penance is observed with the objective of creating and also building impetus and energy for achieving progress on the path of enlightenment.
Korean Buddhism
Korean Buddhism is distinguished from other forms of Buddhism by its attempt to resolve what it sees as inconsistencies in Mahayana Buddhism. Early Korean monks believed that the traditions they received from foreign countries were internally inconsistent. To address this, they developed a new...
, is located in Jeollanam-do
Jeollanam-do
Jeollanam-do is a province in the southwest of South Korea. The province was formed in 1896 from the southern half of the former Jeolla province, remained a province of Korea until the country's division in 1945, then became part of South Korea...
on the Korean Peninsula
Korean Peninsula
The Korean Peninsula is a peninsula in East Asia. It extends southwards for about 684 miles from continental Asia into the Pacific Ocean and is surrounded by the Sea of Japan to the south, and the Yellow Sea to the west, the Korea Strait connecting the first two bodies of water.Until the end of...
. Situated approximately 18 miles (29 km) away from the sea, it is within the Jogyesan Provincial Park. This monastery, though under the jurisdiction of the Chogye Order in Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
, functions as an autonomous body. It controls a network of 49 small branch temples whose abbots are chosen from among the monks of the main monastery and who also enjoy a fair degree on independence as long as they function as independent economic units without depending on the main monastery. It serves as the head temple for the 21st district of the Jogye Order
Jogye Order
The Jogye Order, officially the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism is the representative order of traditional Korean Buddhism with roots that date back 1,200 years to Unified Silla National Master Doui, who brought Seon and the practice taught by the Sixth Patriarch, Huineng, from China about 820...
among the 25 head monasteries of the order. Songgwangsa, one of the oldest Zen temples in Korea, is still very active today as a practice center.
While originally founded in 867, it was established in 1190 by Zen Master Jinul
Jinul
Chinul or Jinul was a Korean monk of the Goryeo period, who is considered to be the most influential figure in the formation of Korean Seon Buddhism....
(Chinul). Chinul's meditation teachings evolved from this monastery and contributed significantly to the Zen practice that prevails to this day in Korea. Songgwangsa is considered the "jewel" (Samgharatna) of the Korean monastic community. Though smaller in size, it is considered as the greatest among the trio of the Three Jewel Temples of Korea
Three Jewel Temples of Korea
The Three Jewel Temples of Korea are the three principal Buddhist temples in Korea, each representing one of the Three Jewels of Buddhism, and all located in South Korea....
representing the “the jewels of the Buddha and the Dharma, its role in the development of the Korean Buddhist tradition”. The other two of the trio are T’ongdo-sa and Haein-sa.
Over the centuries, it has been rebuilt many times and is now fully restored. As it has been the residence of many monks, the monastery has an assortment of stele
Stele
A stele , also stela , is a stone or wooden slab, generally taller than it is wide, erected for funerals or commemorative purposes, most usually decorated with the names and titles of the deceased or living — inscribed, carved in relief , or painted onto the slab...
and pagodas which contain the ashes of many monks. One of the oldest living quarters in Korea is located at Songgwangsa, as well as an International Zen Center that is popular with foreigners who seek the experience of living in a Zen temple. Koryo Sa, the first foreign branch of Songgwangsa, was established in Koreatown, Los Angeles, California, US in 1980 by Kusan Sunim.
Geography
Songgwangsa is located on the west side of Jogye MountainJogyesan
Jogyesan is a mountain of Jeollanam-do, southwestern South Korea. It has an altitude of 887 metres.-References:...
in Songgwang-myeon, Suncheon
Suncheon, South Korea
Suncheon is a city in Jeollanam-do, South Korea. Located in the province of Jeollanam-do,It is a scenic agricultural and industrial city of around 250,000 people near Suncheon Bay. It is located in the southeastern corner of Jeollanam-do, just over an hour south-east of Gwangju...
, Jeollanam-do
Jeollanam-do
Jeollanam-do is a province in the southwest of South Korea. The province was formed in 1896 from the southern half of the former Jeolla province, remained a province of Korea until the country's division in 1945, then became part of South Korea...
, South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
. Seonam-sa, a quieter hermitage dating to 529, lies on the eastern side of Janggunbong Mountain 884 metres (2,900.3 ft), also within the Jogyesan Provincial Park. Songgwangsa, located between Chongju and Mai-san, is accessible via Chonju city bus or taxi.
The road that accesses Songgwangsa is flanked with giant pine trees and crosses a valley with a round pavilion bridge called Cheongryanggak, designed as a place to rest.
A stream runs at the entrance to the temple and two bridges cross this stream. One of bridges has a unique architectural arch.
Also seen near the bridge are two independent small houses detached from the main the temple. There are differing versions as to why they were built. One version is that it was meant as a storehouse to keep the mortal remains for a specified period at the request of the dead. The other version is that it was used as a dressing room by the royal family after bathing to adorn their wedding dress prior to marriage. These versions and practices have been reported on in Robert Buswell's The Zen Monastic Experience (1992).
Etymology
Songgwang means "a temple in which 18 great monks will spread the teaching of Buddha", "Song" referring to the 18 great men and "Gwang" to the spreading of Buddhism.History
Little is known about the early history of Gilsangsa, a temple built during the Silla dynastySilla
Silla was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, and one of the longest sustained dynasties in...
on the site that is now Songgwangsa. It was built by Son master Hyerin who also built a hermitage and lived there. It was about one hundred kan
Kan
Kan may refer to:* Kan River in Russia* Kan District of Iran* Kan * One of the Bacabs of Mayan mythology* Gan, the Wade-Giles spelling of the Pinyin word* Kan variation of the Sicilian Defence, a chess opening-In music:...
in size (about 400 square feet (37.2 m²)), and included 30 to 40 monks. As there is no information about Hyerin, Buswell (1991) states that scholars may have devised Hyerin as a legendary figure who predated the arrival of Chinul.
Gilsangsa was abandoned for over fifty years but was reconstructed over a nine year period in the 1190s to became an important centre of Korean Buddhism and as a centre for scholarly learning of the Jeonghyegyeolsa
Jeonghyegyeolsa
Jeonghyegyeolsa was a Buddhism movement. It was dedicated to the pursuing of Samadhi. It was moved by Jinul who established a new tradition of the Korean Buddhism....
movement. Historical records indicate that Zen Master Chinul (Son or Hwoand Master) established Songgwangsa in 1190 on Mount Chogye. There are several legends related to the origin of the temple. However, Chinul, the national master Bojo, is said to have flown a black kite made of wood in Mt. Mohu, and where it landed he named it Chirakdae, meaning "the place where a black kite landed". The mountain was later renamed as Mount Songgwang.
The monastery has had a turbulent history, affected by the Jeongyoojaeran and the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
, after the 16th century. One of the former abbots, Sokchin, wrote an anthology in 1932, based on extant references of the history of Songgwangsa. Master Kusan (1901–1983), an important disciple of Hyobong, was ordained and resided at the temple for some time in the 1940s. It has produced 16 national preceptor
Preceptor
A preceptor is a teacher responsible to uphold a certain law or tradition, a precept.-Christian military orders:A preceptor was historically in charge of a preceptory, the headquarters of certain orders of monastic Knights, such as the Knights Hospitaller and Knights Templar, within a given...
s.
Saint Seokjo, during the Injong of Goryeo
Injong of Goryeo
Injong of Goryeo was the 17th monarch of the Korean Goryeo dynasty. He was the eldest son of king Yejong and Empress Sundeok....
era, was said to have had grand plans to expand the temple but died before his plans could take effect. The temple was rebuilt in the 17th century when Buddhism was regaining popularity. Renovations carried out after 1988 were very elaborate and extensive with original foundations as the base structure. The refurbishing involved 14 buildings including the main hall. The uniqueness of the monastery built after 1988 is unlike that of other great monasteries.
Architecture
The layout plan of the monastery closely resembles the "ocean-seal chart also called the dharma-wheel chart", said to be a diagram indicative of the Korean doctrine of Hwoam.The elevation of the main temple building (Daeungbojeon), gives a double roofed appearance. The main temple or hall (Taeung-chon, "Basilica of the Great Hero"), is accessed via a single beam gate known as an ilichu-mun, and is built in the traditional style with wooden beams. It contains a shrine of Vairocana
Vairocana
Vairocana is a celestial Buddha who is often interpreted as the Bliss Body of the historical Gautama Buddha; he can also be referred to as the dharmakaya Buddha and the great solar Buddha. In Sino-Japanese Buddhism, Vairocana is also seen as the embodiment of the Buddhist concept of shunyata or...
, the Dharmakāya
Dharmakaya
The Dharmakāya is a central idea in Mahayana Buddhism forming part of the Trikaya doctrine that was possibly first expounded in the Aṣṭasāhasrikā prajñā-pāramitā , composed in the 1st century BCE...
Buddha
Buddha
In Buddhism, buddhahood is the state of perfect enlightenment attained by a buddha .In Buddhism, the term buddha usually refers to one who has become enlightened...
, and relics related to the Huayan school of Buddhism, illustrating the importance of this philosophy in Korean Buddhism. The main hall houses the three main statues of the past Buddha, Dipankara
Dipankara
Dīpankara one of the Buddhas of the past, said to have lived on Earth one hundred thousand years.Theoretically, the number of Buddhas having existed is enormous and they are...
, the present day Buddha, Sakyamuni, and the future Buddha, Maitreya
Maitreya
Maitreya , Metteyya , or Jampa , is foretold as a future Buddha of this world in Buddhist eschatology. In some Buddhist literature, such as the Amitabha Sutra and the Lotus Sutra, he or she is referred to as Ajita Bodhisattva.Maitreya is a bodhisattva who in the Buddhist tradition is to appear on...
. The main shrine of the central temple is about 25 feet (7.6 m) high on a wooden altar but has space surrounding it so that visiting pilgrims can circumambulate around it. The entry hall contains the statues of the four heavenly kings (sach'onwang) which act as Dharma
Dharma
Dharma means Law or Natural Law and is a concept of central importance in Indian philosophy and religion. In the context of Hinduism, it refers to one's personal obligations, calling and duties, and a Hindu's dharma is affected by the person's age, caste, class, occupation, and gender...
protectors to ward off evil spirits.
To the side of the main building is the Jijangjeon, which contains a Buddha statue and the Seungbojeo, which explains its affiliation and importance to the Seon. Just below the main temple complex, which is crafted in wood, is a group of stone stelae, all measuring roughly 8 feet (2.4 m) in height, that display the history of the monastery. An ancient hitching post near this area would historically have served government officials and other eminent visitors. The nearby Drum and the Bell Tower (Chonggo-ru) houses many implements used domestically in the monastery's history. The Teaching Hall, the Masters' Portrait Hall and the residence of the Spiritual Leader are located at the highest elevation but not the main hall. Also near the Spiritual Leader’s residence is a small house with a conventional chimney that dates to the 15th century, said to belong to his deputy, and believed to be “one of the oldest living quarters in Korea."
Features
Several statues surround the main temple building and a giant, colourful t'aenghwaT'aenghwa
T'aenghwa is a characteristic type of Korean Buddhist visual art. A genre of Buddhist art, the paintings of icons can be on hanging scrolls, or framed pictures, or wall-paintings. T'aenghwa may be small, private and made for indoor display, or large and made for outdoor display...
(scroll painting) hangs behind the main image, depicting a Buddhist pantheon
Pantheon (gods)
A pantheon is a set of all the gods of a particular polytheistic religion or mythology.Max Weber's 1922 opus, Economy and Society discusses the link between a...
. The main image deified on a wooden altar is very tall, covering the entire height from floor to the ceiling. There is also a portrait of the guardian general of Buddhism, Wit'a on one of the side walls, which is akin to 16th century portraits found in China.
The temple complex has three great treasures: the Bisari Gusi, Ssanghyangsu, and the Neunggyeonnansa. The Bisari Gusi is a massive rice container made from trees (two large Chinese juniper trees) which can contain enough rice to feed 4,000 monks. Sanghyangsu takes the form of two very large Chinese juniper trees and Neunggyeonnansa is an intricately designed plate.
Buddha’s birthday
Buddha’s Birthday (Puchonim osin nal) festival is a gala annual festival that is celebrated in all Buddhist monasteries in Korea on the eight day of the fourth lunar month (corresponds Gregorian calendarGregorian calendar
The Gregorian calendar, also known as the Western calendar, or Christian calendar, is the internationally accepted civil calendar. It was introduced by Pope Gregory XIII, after whom the calendar was named, by a decree signed on 24 February 1582, a papal bull known by its opening words Inter...
month of early May) which corresponds to two weeks prior to the start of the summer retreat. On this occasion, paper lanterns or lamps with candles are lit which are strung around all the shrines within the monastery and in series of rows in the central courtyard. The most ornate type of lantern is the lotus flower type. These are usually professionally made by women monks of the subsidiary monasteries of Songgwangsa. The lanterns are also put up for sale at the main entrance of the monastery. According to a leaned monk of the Songgwangsa monastery, the practice of lantern lighting is linked to Jataka tales of Buddha's past lives. The largest lamps inside the main shrine hall have been dedicated in the past to President Park Chung Hee and his wife. Food offerings for lunch and dinner at an improvised altar and dharma lectures are a common feature on this occasion. The Songgwangsa monastery is kept open fully to the public on this day, only once every year, when Monks are seen holding guard at all the shrines and halls of the monastery, except the main mediation hall and the private rooms of the monks which are barred for public viewing. Offering of lamps on this day is considered a meritorious deed as it is said:
In the evening, lighting ceremony is held when lay people who have bought lamps or lanterns light them by placing a candle inside the lantern, at about 7.30 PM. The lighted lamps are a delightful sight to behold, walking around the monastery or viewing from the top of a nearby hill. The lamps are later put out marking the end of the ceremony.
New Year day
Another notable festival is the New Year (sollal) day that is observed with piety and gaiety, according to the Solar calendarSolar calendar
A solar calendar is a calendar whose dates indicate the position of the earth on its revolution around the sun .-Tropical solar calendars:...
in late January or early February, every year. The festival, which starts with New Year’s eve lasts for three days.
Meditations
Apart from the festivals, the monastery observes two meditation seasons, which are an integral feature of Korean BuddhismKorean Buddhism
Korean Buddhism is distinguished from other forms of Buddhism by its attempt to resolve what it sees as inconsistencies in Mahayana Buddhism. Early Korean monks believed that the traditions they received from foreign countries were internally inconsistent. To address this, they developed a new...
, in the tradition of the historical Sakyamuni Buddha; both are two 3-month meditation seasons, one in winter and the other in summer, scheduled according to the Lunar Calendar
Lunar calendar
A lunar calendar is a calendar that is based on cycles of the lunar phase. A common purely lunar calendar is the Islamic calendar or Hijri calendar. A feature of the Islamic calendar is that a year is always 12 months, so the months are not linked with the seasons and drift each solar year by 11 to...
. Normally, 120 monks attend these meditations, which are still practiced in Korean Buddhism. The number of resident monks attending the mediation practices fluctuates according to season, and generally there are about 120 monks during meditation seasons and 70 monks during the off seasons. During this period monks mediate for 12 hours, and even more severe order of continuous 24 hours period of penance is observed with the objective of creating and also building impetus and energy for achieving progress on the path of enlightenment.
See also
- Buddhism in Korea
- List of Buddhist temples
- Martine BatchelorMartine BatchelorMartine Batchelor , a former Jogye Buddhist nun, is the author of several books on Buddhism currently residing in France. She and her husband, Stephen Batchelor, work mostly in the United Kingdom and occasionally in the United States. In addition to writing books, she leads meditation groups with...
- Korean Buddhist templesKorean Buddhist templesBuddhist temples are an important part of the Korean landscape. This article gives a brief overview of Korean Buddhism, then describes some of the more important temples in Korea. Most Korean temples have names ending in -sa , which means "temple", or ancient temple.-Introduction to Korean...
External links
- Official site
- Digital Dictionary of Buddhism (log in as "guest")