Temples of Korea

Traditional religion in South Korea is Buddhism, it is practiced by 22.8% of the population. In the country, Christianity, Islam and shamanism are also widespread. In order for local residents to have the opportunity to worship their gods, various temples are located throughout the country.

General information on Buddhist shrines

The most common direction of Buddhism in the state is the Mahayana or the "Great Chariot". It manifests itself in the form of Zen and has 18 schools. The most famous of them is Choge.

For several centuries, Buddhism has had a strong influence on the formation of the country's traditions and culture . Demonstration of religion can be seen in numerous paintings, murals, sculptures and architecture of cities. The most vivid manifestation of this belief is the historical temples located throughout South Korea.

Their number exceeds 10 thousand, some are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, others are Korean national treasure. Many Buddhist shrines store valuable relics and archeological artifacts. Almost all the names of shrines are added the syllable "-sa", which translates as "temple".

Each building has its own architecture and decoration, but in all the shrines are:

1. Gates Ilchkhulmun (with one support) - they are also called Hathalmun. They denote the unity of the body and soul of the pilgrim, as well as his desire to know his own essence. Crossing this line, visitors leave the ordinary world and enter the kingdom of Buddha.
2. Pudo - ovoid stone sculptures with original roofs. Here is the ashes of cremated monks and ringlets (balls), which prove the sanctity of the deceased person. Believers receive a blessing near these monuments.
3. Cheonvanmun is the gate of the heavenly kings, which are made in form of formidable deities and are designed to repel evil spirits. Usually they have a pagoda, dragon, saber or flute in their hands.
4. Pulimun is the gateway to nirvana or liberation. They symbolize the awakening of consciousness and becoming a religious path.
5. The inner courtyard - its borders along the perimeter are outlined by various structures, in which sermons, meditations and the study of dharma are conducted.

The 10 most famous Buddhist temples in Korea

In the country there is a huge number of shrines, the most famous of them are:

1. Sinhyntsa - is located on the slope of the mountain Soraksan . The construction is considered the oldest temple of Zen Buddhism on the planet. It was erected in 653 AD, after which it was destroyed several times because of fires and restored again. There is a huge statue of Buddha, cast from bronze and weighing 108 tons.
2. The Temple of Thousand Buddhas is located on the territory of the mountain forests of the country. He is a set of tall sculptures of Shakyamuni, which are gathered in a circle. In the center is a multi-meter statue of a Bodhisattva cast from bronze and sitting on a lotus.
3. Ponyns is an ancient temple located in the capital of the country on the slope of the Sudo Mountain. The shrine was built in 794, but at the beginning of the 20th century it was almost completely destroyed. At present the building is completely restored and takes pilgrims. Every tourist here can reincarnate for a day in a monk and feel on himself all the delights of such a life.
4. Haeins is one of the most famous Buddhist temples in the state that represents the Dharma. Here are kept the sacred texts of the "Tripitaka Koreana", the number of which exceeds 80 thousand. They were carved on wooden plaques and included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The shrine is located in Kensan-Namdo province on Mount Kayasan .
5. Pulgux - the name of the building is translated as "the monastery of the Buddhist country." The monastery includes 7 objects, which are National Treasures. The temple itself is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List (together with the grotto of Sokkuram ). Here is the earliest example of a printed book on the planet, created in the early VIII century AD. on Japanese paper.
6. Thondosa - is a monastic complex located in the city of Yangsan on the slope of Mount Yonchuksan. This is one of the main temples of the Order of Choge in South Korea. Here are stored the real relics of the Buddha and a piece of his clothes. In the monastery there is not a single statue of Shakyamuni, pilgrims worship only sacred relics.
7. The Pomos Temple is located in Busan City in South Korea on Mount Kimjonsan . It is a temple complex, which is the oldest in the country and has a large territory. The wooden monastery was built in 678 by the monk Yisan. At the end of the XVI century, the Japanese burnt the shrine. In 1613, the reconstruction began here, thanks to which the territory was expanded.
8. Chogesa - the temple is located in the central part of Seoul and is the heart of Korean Zen Buddhism. The main building here is Taunjeong, erected in 1938. It is decorated with tanchon patterns, and inside the structure there is a sculpture of Buddha Sokgamoni. In the courtyard of the complex you can see a 7-tiered pagoda, where the ashes of the monks are kept. Near the entrance grow 2 ancient trees: white pine and sophora. Their height reaches 26 m, and the age exceeds 500 years.
9. Bonguunsa - the temple is located in Seoul and is quite ancient. It was erected in the VIII century. The shrine is built in a classical architectural style and is decorated with carvings and filigree paintings.
10. Hwännensa is the temple of the yellow or imperial dragon. It was the center of Buddhism during the state of Silla. Here are kept the most revered religious relics, which were found during archaeological excavations.

Orthodox churches in South Korea

This direction of the Christian religion began to develop actively in the country in the XIX century. This was facilitated by the missionary activity of the Russian Orthodox Church. In 2011, the number of believers was estimated at 3,000. There are 2 patriarchates:

• a spiritual mission that belongs to the jurisdiction of the Russian Orthodox Church;
• Constantinople, which has the Korean metropolitan state on the territory of the state.

If you want to visit Orthodox churches in Korea, then pay attention to such churches:

1. The Church of St. Nicholas of Myra is located in Seoul. It was erected in 1978 in Byzantine style. Here you can see 2 ancient icons: the Monk Seraphim of Sarov and the Tikhvin Mother of God. They were brought into the country by the first missionaries. Divine services in the church are made in Korean every Sunday.
2. The Church of St. George the Victorious - the shrine is located in Busan, near the railway station. The services here take place every last Sunday of the month in the Church Slavonic language.
3. The Church of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary - it was erected in 1982, and after 18 years it was substantially rebuilt. Due to the insufficient amount of land, the monastery has a non-traditional style for Orthodoxy. The church is in a 4-storey building on the last level. She also has a religious school. Parish is attended by 200 Korean believers.

What other temples are there in South Korea?

There are other Christian churches in the country, not only Orthodox. These include:

1. Yoyyido is a Protestant Pentecostal church of the Full Gospel, which is considered to be one of the largest in the world and has 24 satellite churches. The service here takes place on Sundays in 7 stages, it is broadcasted to the whole world via satellite television in 16 languages.
2. Mendon is the Catholic Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The building is a historical and architectural monument and is on the list of national treasures under No. 258. Here are buried the relics of the local martyrs who died in the struggle for religion.