Jogye Order

TheJogye Order,officially theJogye Order of Korean Buddhism(대한불교조계종, đại Hàn Phật giáo tào khê tông ), is the representativeorderof traditionalKorean Buddhism,with roots that date back 1200 years ago to theLate SillaNational Master Doui, who brought Seon (known asZenin the West) and the practice taught by the Sixth Patriarch,Huineng,fromChinaaround 820 CE. The name of the Order,Jogye,was adopted from the name of the village where Patriarch Huineng's home temple,Nanhua Temple,is located (Chinese:Tào khê;pinyin:cáo xī;Korean:조계;romaja:Jogye).

Jogye Order
Kyong Ho Seong-Wu, 75th Patriarch
Korean name
Hangul	조계종
Hanja	TàoKhêTông
Revised Romanization	Jogye-jong
McCune–Reischauer	Chogye-chong

The Jogye became a distinct school in the late 11th century when the monkJinulsought to combine the direct practices ofKorean Seonwith the theological underpinnings ofsutra-based Buddhist schools and withPure Land Buddhism.

In 1994, the Jogye order managed 1725 temples and 10,056 clerics and had 9,125,991 adherents.

The internationalKwan Um School of Zenis a Jogye school founded by Seon MasterSeungsahn,78th Patriarch, who receiveddharma transmissionfrom Seon MasterGobong.

History

The original "Nine Schools" of Seon that descended fromChan Buddhismwere instrumental in the development of the nation during the Later Silla and thereafter. However, during theGoryeoperiod, theCheontaeunderUicheonrose to prominence and drew away many talented monks, forcing the Seon to innovate.In response to this, Buddhist leadersJinulandTaego Bouled major Seon movements. Jinul in particular sought to develop an order founded in the direct practices of Seon but also gave importance to sutra study andthe recitation of the nameofAmitābhaas found in thePure Landteachings.The basic precept Jinul advocated was "sudden enlightenment followed by gradual cultivation".

The Jogye was thus established as the representative Seon order until the persecution of theJoseondynasty. Due to its inclusive nature and emphasis on continual discipline, the Jogye gained considerable support from the military establishment and developed across monasteries all over theKorean peninsula.

However, during the Joseon period, Buddhism was repressed in favor ofNeo-Confucianism.During the reign ofSejong(r. 1418-1450), two sects were formed, one of all the doctrinal schools and another of all the Seon schools. These were then temporarily disbanded under the reign ofYonsangun(r. 1494-1506), resulting in great confusion.

However, during theJapanese invasions of Korea (1592–1598),National MastersSeosanand Samyeong raised armies that protected the nation, which improved the situation of Buddhism for a time. However it was not until the political reforms of 1895 that monks were permitted in the cities again. Then in 1899, under the leadership of Seon MasterGyeongheo(1849-1912), monks petitioned fromHaeinsato reestablish the traditions and the philosophical basis for a reconstructed Buddhist order. Eventually, theWonjongandImjejongorders of theLinji schoolwere founded, and attempts were made to revive the doctrinal schools and to reestablish activities in the cities, but these movements were soon suppressed during theJapanese occupation,which began in 1910.

Reaction to the occupation by Japan was mixed in the Jogye. While some collaborated with the authorities,monks such asYongsongandManhaeled efforts to keep Korean Buddhist traditions alive. In 1921 theSonhakwon Seon Meditation Centerwas established, and in 1929, a Monks’ Conference of Joseon was held. In 1937, a movement for the establishment of a Central Headquarters began, which was successful with the building of theMain Buddha HallofJogyesain Seoul in 1938. Finally in 1941 the Joseon Buddhism Jogye Order which was distinctly Korean and free from Japanese influence, was established. This was the first legal Buddhist order in modern Korea and the precursor of today's Jogye Order.

Following liberation from Japan in 1945, Seon monks who had preserved and cherished Korean Buddhist traditions began a purification drive to re-establish the traditional celibate orders and take back the temples from married priests, a remnant of the Japanese Occupation. Finally, in 1955 the Jogye Order was established centered on celibate monks; however, as a result of mediation between the elder monks and the government, already-married priests were also included.

On April 11, 1962 Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism was officially established with three main goals: training and education; sutra translation into Korean fromHanja;and propagation. These goals continue to guide the Jogye Order today as well. It was in 1947-1949 that a group of monks atBongamsabegan a movement advocating "Living According to the Teachings of the Buddha" and this provided the opportunity for the establishment of fundamental principles and traditions as well as the accepted ceremonies of the order.

Internal Conflicts and Scandals

In the late 1990s, a struggle broke out between two factions of the Order for who would appoint the heads of major temples in Korea.Although the court ruled in favor of the Purification and Reform Committee (PRC), the ruling was not sufficiently enforced, and fighting broke out between hundreds of monks using makeshift weaponry.

In more recent years, the Jogye Order has been beset with scandals involving gamblingand sexual misconduct.

Conflicts with the Lee Myung-bak government

The Jogye Order faced conflict with the government led by former PresidentLee Myung-bak,a conservativePresbyterian Christian.The government is at odds with the Jogye Order by the decreasing of Temple Stay fundings, the lack of government recognition of theLantern Festival,and omitted Buddhist temples, even famous ones, while marking the locations of even minor Christian churches in the new address system.After Lee's ascendence to the Presidency when the high proportion of Christians in relation to Buddhists in the public sector became known–particularly the president's cabinet, where there were 12 Christians to only one Buddhist,among other reported incidences.

In 2006, according to theAsia Times,"Lee also sent a video prayer message to a Christian rally held in the southern city of Busan in which the worship leader prayed feverishly: 'Lord, let the Buddhist temples in this country crumble down!'"Further, according to an article inBuddhist-Christian Studies:"Over the course of the last decade a fairly large number of Buddhist temples in South Korea have been destroyed or damaged by fire by misguided Protestant fundamentalists. More recently, Buddhist statues have been identified as idols, attacked and decapitated. Arrests are hard to effect, as the arsonists and vandals work by stealth of night."

Proposal for Establishing 'World Meditation Day' Submitted to the UN

On September 20, 2024, the Chief Administrator of the Jogye Order held a press conference at the Korean Buddhist History and Culture Memorial Hall in Jongno, Seoul, announcing plans to officially propose the establishment of "World Meditation Day" on May 21 (tentatively) during a visit to theUNheadquarters in New York.

Head temples

The numerous temples of the Jogye order are arranged under 24 "head temples." The head temples each oversee a district (gyogu), containing a large number of subordinate temples.^[1]

1.Jogyesa:Gyeonji-dong,Jongno District,centralSeoul.

2.Yongjusa:Taean-eup,Hwaseong,southernGyeonggi Province.

3.Sinheungsa:Seorak-dong,Sokcho,easternGangwon Province.

4.Woljeongsa:Jinbu-myeon,Pyeongchang County,centralGangwon Province.

5.Beopjusa:Naesongni-myeon,Boeun County,North Chungcheong Province.

6.Magoksa:Sagok-myeon,Gongju,South Chungcheong Province.

7.Sudeoksa:Deoksan-myeon,Yesan County,South Chungcheong Province.

8.Jikjisa:Daehang-myeon,Gimcheon,North Gyeongsang Province.

9.Donghwasa:Dohak-dong,Dong District,Daegu.

10.Eunhaesa:Cheongtong-myeon,Yeongcheon,North Gyeongsang Province.

11.Bulguksa:Jinhyeon-dong,Gyeongju,North Gyeongsang Province

12.Haeinsa:Gaya-myeon,Hapcheon County,South Gyeongsang Province.

13.Ssanggyesa:Hwagae-myeon,Hadong County,South Gyeongsang Province.

14.Beomeosa:Cheongnyong-dong,Geumjeong District,Busan.

15.Tongdosa:Habuk-myeon,Yangsan,South Gyeongsang Province.

16.Gounsa:Danchon-myeon,Uiseong County,North Gyeongsang Province.

17.Geumsansa:Geumsan-myeon,Gimje,North Jeolla Province.

18.Baegyangsa:Bukha-myeon,Jangseong County,South Jeolla Province.

19.Hwaeomsa:Masan-myeon,Gurye County,South Jeolla Province.

20.Songgwangsa:Songgwang-myeon,Suncheon,South Jeolla Province.

21.Daeheungsa:Samsan-myeon,Haenam County,South Jeolla Province.

22. Gwaneumsa: Ara-dong,Jeju City,Jeju Province.

23.Seonunsa:Asan-myeon,Gochang County,North Jeolla Province.

24.Bongseonsa:Jinjeop-eup,Nam dương cụ,Gyeonggi Province.

See also

• Huineng,the Sixth Patriarch
• Jinul,credited as the founder of Jogye Order
• Taego Bou
• Gyeongheo
• Cheongnyeonsa
• Mangong
• Hanam Jungwon
• Kobong
• Hyobong Sunim
• Seongcheol
• Seungsahn
• Pohwa
• Samu (sunim)
• Chan Buddhism
• Five Houses of Chán
• Caodong school
• Linji school
• Korean Seon
• Nine mountain schools
• Taego Order
• Kwan Um School of Zen
• Chogye International Zen Center
• Korean Buddhism
• Religion in Korea
• Shingumdo— a sword school that emerged from theenlightenmentof a Jogye Order monk
• Banyasa

External links

• Official site, in Korean
• Official site, in English
• Kwan Um School of Zen, in English