Jogyesa Temple in Seoul : 7 Random Details for You

Have You Heard About Jogyesa Temple (조계사) in Korea?

• Location : 55, Ujeongguk-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Korea (Naver Map Link)
• Brief Summary : Jogyesa Temple was built in 1395 as a temple of the Jogye sect. It was founded in 1910 as Gakhwangsa Temple with the help of monks. In 1938, Taegosa Temple was established, and in 1954, it was renamed Jogyesa Temple.

7 Random Details About Jogyesa Temple

1. Located in Jongno-gu, it is one of the most popular temples in Seoul, along with Bongunsa Temple.
2. It is the headquarters of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, the largest Buddhist sect in South Korea. The Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism is the largest sect in South Korea and the only sect that produces Buddhist military officers.
3. Next to Jogyesa Temple, there is Pinus bungeana, which was selected as Natural Monument No. 9 in 1962 a cypress that is more than 500 years old. It is native to China and was planted by emissaries traveling to and from China during the Joseon Dynasty.
4. It made an appearance on the Simpsons in 2019.
5. Right next to Jogyesa Temple, there is the Ujeongchongguk, which was the government office in charge of the postal service in the late Joseon Dynasty, and the first post office in Korean history. It is now a postal museum. Don’t forget to check it out!
6. The temple offers a variety of temple stay programs.
7. As with many religious organizations, one of the problems with the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism is the lack of transparency over its finances, which has led to embezzlement and even cases of prosecution of Jogye Sect leaders.