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20-734: Tongdosa is one of the Three Jewels Temples and represents Gautama Buddha . ( Haeinsa , also in South Gyeongsang Province, represents the dharma or Buddhist teachings; and Songgwangsa in South Jeolla Province represents the sangha or Buddhist community.) Tongdosa is famous because there are no statues outside of the Buddha at the temple because the "real shrines of the Buddha " (relics) are preserved at Tongdosa. Courtyards at

40-473: A Buddha" because it contains no outdoor statues of the Buddha; rather it is arranged around several stupas which contain Jajang-yulsa's relics of the historical Buddha. The road that meanders up to the temple wanders through a forest called "Pine trees dancing in the wind". 65 buildings separately house a shrine for virtually every major Buddhist deity. The temple does not seem especially large because many of

60-471: A Buddhist altar that spans east to west inside along the front with a window, in the place of a Buddha image, looks out on the Geumgang Gyedan (Diamond Altar). Tongdosa's Daeungjeon is National Treasure #290. 35°29′17″N 129°03′53″E  /  35.48806°N 129.06472°E  / 35.48806; 129.06472 Three Jewels Temples The Three Jewels Temples (삼보사찰| Sambosachal) are

80-543: A legion of supernatural creatures to protect the Dharma (Buddhist teachings). Next comes the third gate of the temple, Purimun, known as the Gate of Non-Duality. The world across this gate is one of non-duality, where there is no distinction between the Buddha and human beings, being and non-being, good and evil, and fullness and emptiness. During Purimun's long history the gate has been rebuilt many times. The present Gate of Non-Duality

100-1019: The Tripitaka Koreana ; and Songgwangsa has several prominent buildings dedicated to its monastic community (including the numerous Seon (Zen) Masters the temple has produced). Four Heavenly Kings The Four Heavenly Kings are four Buddhist gods or devas , each of whom is believed to watch over one cardinal direction of the world. The Hall of Four Heavenly Kings is a standard component of Chinese Buddhist temples . The Kings are collectively named as follows: ᜐᜎᜅᜒᜆ᜔ Дөрвөн махранз Орчлоныг хамгаалах дөрвөн махранз (Orčilang-i qamaɣalaqu dörben maqaranza) Individually, they have different names and features. (Тийн сонсогч) Tiin sonsogch/tein sonosuɣči (Үлэмж биет) Ülemzh biyet/Ülemji beyetü (Орон орчиниг сахигч) Oron orchinig saxigch/Oron orčin-i sakiɣči (Эгнэгт үзэгч) Egnegt üzegch/Egenegte üjegči Namsrai Pagzhiibuu Yolxorsüren Zhamiisan All four Kings serve Śakra ,

120-654: The Asuras , which once threatened to destroy the realm of the devas. They also vowed to protect the Buddha, the Dharma , and the Buddha's followers from danger. In Chinese Buddhism, all four of the heavenly kings are regarded as four of the Twenty Devas (二十諸天 Èrshí Zhūtiān) or the Twenty-Four Devas (二十四諸天 Èrshísì zhūtiān), a group of Buddhist dharmapalas who manifest to protect the Dharma. According to Vasubandhu , devas born in

140-498: The Chinese character for fire on a sheet of paper and tossed it skyward while using his long stick to splash the pond. The water began to boil. The dragons could not endure the heat so three tried to escape and flew off, became disoriented, and died by colliding into a cliff called Yonghyeolam ("dragon blood rock"). Five of the dragons flew southwest into a valley now called Oryonggok ("five dragon valley"). The last dragon, blinded by

160-517: The Buddha himself, including a robe , a begging bowl, and a bone from his skull, all relics that Jajang-yulsa brought back from the travels to Tang China he undertook in 636 to study with ten other monks. Only one building, the Mahavira Hall (main Dharma worship hall), survived the Japanese invasions of Korea (1592–98) in the late 16th century; the other buildings were rebuilt later that period. In

180-537: The Cāturmahārājika heaven are 1/4 of a krośa in height (about 750 feet tall). They have a five-hundred-year lifespan, of which each day is equivalent to 50 years in our world; thus their total lifespan amounts to about nine million years (other sources say 90,000 years). The attributes borne by each King also link them to their followers; for instance, the nāgas , magical creatures who can change form between human and serpent, are led by Virūpākṣa , represented by

200-484: The buildings are dispersed throughout the surrounding mountainside. 13 hermitages can be found on the temple complex grounds. The buildings are varied in architectural style with many left unpainted or faded. One of the buildings contains a fine mural depicting a boat escorting the deceased into paradise. A museum on the temple grounds displays an excellent collection of artwork. Today at this temple there are 19 local treasures and 794 local cultural properties. Approaching

220-544: The entrance the first bridge one sees is Samseongbanwol — Three Arch Bridge — meaning three stars and a half moon, sometimes also called the One Mind Bridge. The Chinese character is composed of four strokes; when applying the strokes to the name of the bridge, the long stroke stands for a half moon and the others, three stars. The first gate to the temple, Iljumun , is called the One-Pillar Gate because when viewed from

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240-416: The heat, made a vow to Jajang-yulsa that if he spared his life and allowed him to stay in the pond forever, the blind dragon would always guard the temple. Jajang-yulsa granted the dragon's request and the dragon was allowed to stay as protector of the temple. Nine Dragons Pond, now called Guryongji, still stands beside the main temple hall. Korea's largest temple, Tongdosa, is often called "the temple without

260-559: The highest, most important, and often largest building is the Mahavira Hall --the central hall containing statues of the historical Buddha and other important figures. In the Three Jewel Temples, however, the most important buildings are ones that emphasize each temple's particular jewel. Thus, the main hall in Tongdosa opens out onto a stupa which the faithful claim contains relics of the Buddha; Haeinsa has two large buildings holding

280-517: The lord of the devas of Trāyastriṃśa . On the 8th, 14th and 15th days of each lunar month , the Kings either send out emissaries or go themselves to inspect the state of virtue and morality in the world of men. Then they report their findings to the assembly of the Trāyastriṃśa devas. On the orders of Śakra, the Kings and their retinues stand guard to protect Trāyastriṃśa from another attack by

300-433: The mid 15th century at the height of its prosperity, Tongdosa is said to have had hundreds of buildings and thousands of monks. For over 1,300 years Tongdosa's Beopdeung (temple candle) has never gone out. Legend has it that at the time of Tongdosa's founding there were nine evil dragons living in a big pond. Jajang-yulsa enjoined the dragons to leave by reciting a magic texts. They refused to leave so Jajang-yulsa inscribed

320-510: The relics of the Buddha that Jajang-yulsa returned from China. Tongdosa is the ‘Buddha Jewel Temple’ because it enshrines Sari Jinsin (the Buddha’s relics) in the Geumgang Gyedan (Diamond Altar), a platform for the ceremony prevailing Buddhist precepts, behind Daeungjeon (main Dharma Hall). There is no image of the Buddha or Bodhisattvas, as is typically found in a worship hall, in Tongdosa. Instead

340-555: The side the gate appears to be supported by a single pillar. This symbolizes the support of the world and the one true path of enlightenment. Iljumun is the boundary between the spiritual world and the secular world. The following gate is the Gate of the Guardians of the Four Directions or Four Heavenly Kings, each of whom watches over one cardinal direction. They are the protectors of the world and fighters of evil, each able to command

360-483: The temple are arrayed around several pagodas that house the Buddha's relics. Tongdosa was established by the monk Jajang-yulsa after returning from Tang China in 646 AD, during the reign of Queen Seondeok of Silla . It thrived throughout the Later Silla and Goryeo periods (918-1392), when Buddhism was the state religion , and remained strong even during Joseon . Tongdosa is reputed to house several relics of

380-651: The three principal Buddhist temples in Korea , each representing one of the Three Jewels of Buddhism , and all located in South Korea . Tongdosa in South Gyeongsang Province represents the Buddha ; Haeinsa , also in South Gyeongsang Province, represents the dharma or Buddhist teachings; and Songgwangsa in South Jeolla Province represents the sangha or Buddhist community. In most Korean Buddhist temples,

400-550: Was constructed in the late Joseon Dynasty and was built to line up straight with the One Pillar Gate, Guardian Gate, and Daeungjeon (main Dharma hall). The gate of Non-Duality is the left most structure in the first picture at the top of the page. Purimun, the Gate of Non-Duality, is designated South Gyeongsang Provincial Tangible Cultural Property #252. Tongdosa is one of five temples in Korea, known as Jeokmyeolbogung, which enshrine

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