Jogyesa Temple曹溪寺

Jogyesa is the head temple of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism. Since its predecessor, Gakhwangsa, was founded in the heart of Jongno, Seoul, in 1910, Jogyesa has served for over a century as a spiritual haven in the hearts of Buddhist devotees, symbolizing 'Ground Zero of Korean Buddhism'. Located in the heart of Jongno, Seoul, Jogyesa offers citizens a peaceful respite and tranquility in the bustling city. The temple constantly draws both Buddhist devotees who uphold tradition and modern city dwellers seeking a break from their daily routines. The neatly maintained temple grounds are filled with lotus lanterns in spring, lotus flowers in summer, and chrysanthemums in autumn. The Buddhist Hall on the first floor is used for exhibitions and various events, and the Buddhist Newspaper Office located within this building publishes a Buddhist newspaper weekly. In front of the main temple hall stands a 7-story stone pagoda erected in 1930. Buddha's sarira are enshrined inside the pagoda, having been brought to Korea in 1914 by Venerable Dharmapala from Sri Lanka. Stone lanterns are positioned on both sides of this stone pagoda, and looking towards the main hall, a bell pavilion is visible to the left. The bell pavilion houses a large drum, a bronze bell, a cloud gong, and a wooden fish, which are sounded during morning and evening rituals. This is not only for people but for all sentient beings who wish to hear the words of Buddha's enlightenment: the large drum is meant to guide four-legged animals, the bronze bell for those who have fallen into depravity or suffer in hell, the cloud gong for creatures of the sky, and the wooden fish for creatures living in water.