| Songgwangsa | |
|---|---|
 Songgwangsa | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Buddhism |
| Sect | Jogye Order |
| Location | |
| Country | South Korea |
  Shown within South Korea | |
| Geographic coordinates | 35°0′7.884″N 127°16′33.974″E / 35.00219000°N 127.27610389°E |
| Architecture | |
| Completed | 867 |
| Korean name | |
| Hangul | 송광사 |
| Hanja | |
| Revised Romanization | Songgwangsa Spreading Pine Temple |
| McCune–Reischauer | Songgwangsa |
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| Zen Buddhism |
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Songgwangsa (Korean: 송광사; Hanja: 松廣寺) translation: Spreading Pine Temple;[1] alternates: Songgwang-sa, or Songgwang Sa, or Songkwangsa;[2] also known as: Piney Expanse Monastery; originally: Gilsangsa), one of the three jewels of Seon Buddhism,[3] is located in South Jeolla Province[4] on Mount Jogye on the Korean Peninsula. Situated approximately 18 miles (29 km) away from the sea, it is within the Jogyesan Provincial Park.[3]
Founded in 867,[3] it fell into disuse and was reestablished in 1190 by Seon master Jinul.[5] Jinul's meditation teachings evolved from this monastery and contributed significantly to the Seon practice that prevails to this day in Korea.[6] 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 Three Jewels Temples representing “the Buddha, the dharma, and the sangha". The other two of the trio, Tongdosa and Haeinsa, are located in South Gyeongsang Province.
This monastery, though under the jurisdiction of the Jogye 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 of independence as long as they function as independent economic units without depending on the main monastery.[7] It currently serves as the head temple for the 21st district of the Jogye Order among the 25 head monasteries of the order.[8][7] Songgwangsa, one of the oldest Seon temples in Korea,[3] is still very active today as a practice center.
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.[9] One of the oldest living quarters in Korea is located at Songgwangsa, as well as an International Seon Center that is popular with foreigners who seek the experience of living in a Seon temple.[1] Koryo Sa, the first foreign branch of Songgwangsa, was established in Koreatown, Los Angeles, California, US in 1980 by Kusan Sunim.[10]
- ^ a b Cite error: The named reference
followerwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Marshall Cavendish Corporation (September 2007). World and Its Peoples: Eastern and Southern Asia. Marshall Cavendish. pp. 894–. ISBN 978-0-7614-7631-3. Retrieved 31 December 2010.
- ^ a b c d Robinson, Martin; Bartlett, Ray; Whyte, Rob (15 April 2007). Korea. Lonely Planet. p. 258. ISBN 978-1-74104-558-1. Retrieved 30 December 2010.
- ^ Mrázek, Jan; Pitelka, Morgan (2008). What's the use of art?: Asian visual and material culture in context. University of Hawaii Press. pp. 174–. ISBN 978-0-8248-3063-2. Retrieved 30 December 2010.
- ^ "Representative Korean Buddhist Temples". Visit Korea. Archived from the original on 19 December 2012. Retrieved 30 December 2010.
- ^ "Songgwangsa Temple: A Crane Gives Birth to a Jewel". tomcoyner.com. Retrieved December 30, 2010.
- ^ a b Buswell, Robert E. (29 November 1993). The Zen Monastic Experience: Buddhist Practice in Contemporary Korea. Princeton University Press. pp. 49–50. ISBN 978-0-691-03477-5. Retrieved 30 December 2010.
- ^ "Songgwangsa Temple". Official website of Korea: visitkorea.or.kr/. Retrieved December 29, 2010.
- ^ "Songgwangsa: Introduction". eng.Koreatemle.net. Retrieved December 30, 2010.
- ^ Suh, Sharon A. (2004). Being Buddhist in a Christian world: gender and community in a Korean American temple. University of Washington Press. pp. 35–. ISBN 978-0-295-98378-3. Retrieved 31 December 2010.