Seoul | Experience the Purification Movement at Jogyesa Temple

Located in Jongno, Jogyesa Temple was actually rebuilt in 1910. Originally situated in Suseong Park during the 14th-century Joseon Dynasty, it was destroyed by fire. This temple, which has greatly influenced Korean Buddhism, has a rich history. During the Japanese occupation, it was rebuilt and named Wongaksa Temple. After Korea's liberation, it was renamed Taegosa Temple. In 1954, the Purification Movement erupted, expelling monks influenced by Japanese Buddhism, leading to the establishment of the Taego Order. The temple was then officially renamed Jogyesa Temple. The main gate bears a couplet that reads 'A Full Moon on Mount Jogye,' reflecting the origins of the Jogye Order. Master Huineng, the Sixth Patriarch, practiced on Mount Jogye. During my visit, I coincidentally encountered a Dharma assembly, with devotees chanting in the Daeungjeon Hall. Photography is not allowed inside the main hall, where three golden Buddhas are enshrined: the Medicine Buddha, Shakyamuni Buddha, and Amitabha Buddha, representing the past, present, and future, respectively. In front of the temple stands an octagonal ten-story pagoda, which houses the Buddha's relics, said to have been brought from Sri Lanka to Korea in 1914. During lunchtime, devotees often walk around the pagoda for a brief practice. Upon entering the main gate, there is a drum that you can strike three times to make a wish, hoping for your desires to come true. In front of the Daeungjeon Hall, there are two Haetae statues, which have now become the mascots of Seoul. 📍Address: 55 Ujeongguk-ro, Jongno District, Seoul, South Korea