Information
Landmark: Jogyesa TempleCity: Seoul
Country: South Korea
Continent: Asia
Jogyesa Temple, Seoul, South Korea, Asia
Overview
Jogyesa Temple (조계사) stands among Seoul’s most cherished Buddhist sites, its bright lanterns swaying gently in the breeze.As the headquarters of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, it stands as an important spiritual and cultural landmark, where the scent of burning incense drifts through the air.The temple sits in the heart of the city, just a short walk from Insadong’s winding alleys and the grand gates of Gyeongbokgung Palace.Jogyesa Temple, with its quiet courtyards, graceful wooden roofs, and centuries of history, gives visitors a rare chance to step into the heart of Korean Buddhist life and feel its living spirit.Jogyesa Temple sits in the heart of Seoul’s Jongno District, where the scent of pine drifts through its quiet courtyards.You’ll find it at 45 Gyeonji-dong in Jongno-gu, Seoul, right past the little corner café.The temple began in 1395, during the Joseon Dynasty, as a modest shrine with worn wooden beams, then grew over the centuries until, in the 20th century, it became the headquarters of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism.As the head temple of the Jogye Order, it carries deep spiritual weight and stands at the heart of Korea’s Buddhist community, where incense drifts through quiet halls.Jogyesa began as Gakhwangsa Temple during the Joseon Dynasty, its wooden gates weathered by centuries, and took its present name in the late 1800s with the rise of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism.Over the years, the temple has been rebuilt and enlarged more than once, with its biggest changes-new wings and bright stonework-arriving in the 20th century.Today, it’s a proud symbol of Korean Buddhism, a place where monks chant before dawn and students come to learn and live its teachings.The Jogye Order, the largest sect of Korean Buddhism, is rooted in Seon (Zen) practice, where long hours of still meditation are seen as the way to enlightenment.At Jogyesa Temple, the Main Hall, or Daeungjeon, holds the heart of the complex-the central Buddha statue, glowing softly in the dim light.The hall stretches wide, its air scented faintly of cedar, with carved wooden panels, bursts of bright color, and paintings that portray Buddhist teachings alongside serene, watchful deities.At the center of the hall stands a statue of Sakyamuni Buddha, the historical teacher, his bronze robe catching the dim light.Soft light filters through the room, making it a calm space for reflection and meditation, where visitors can settle into stillness and simply breathe.The hall often hosts daily Buddhist rituals, where you might see monks chanting softly or offering prayers before a small altar.Boje-seok (Stone Lanterns): Scattered across the temple grounds, these graceful stone lanterns-called Boje-seok-stand as timeless symbols of Korean Buddhist temples, their weathered surfaces catching the morning light.These lanterns often stand for the light of wisdom, bright enough to chase away the deep shadows of ignorance.During festivals and special occasions, the stone lanterns at Jogyesa glow softly, casting warm pools of light that make the temple feel almost enchanted at night.The Giant Buddha Statue: At the entrance of Jogyesa Temple, a towering Buddha greets visitors, its calm face catching the afternoon light.It stands as a living sign of the temple’s spiritual power, like the low hum of a bell that lingers in the air.People often snap photos of the statue, then linger nearby, letting the quiet stone and soft echo of footsteps invite a moment of reflection.Bodhi Tree: A Bodhi tree stands in the temple’s courtyard, its broad leaves whispering in the breeze-the same kind of tree beneath which the Buddha found enlightenment.India donated this tree as a living symbol of friendship between the two nations, its leaves rustling softly in the breeze.In Buddhism, the Bodhi tree stands as a powerful symbol of awakening, marking the journey toward Nirvana-like the quiet rustle of its leaves beneath a morning sun.Many visitors pause beneath the Bodhi tree, breathing in the warm scent of its leaves, to meditate or quietly reflect on the role it holds in Buddhist tradition.Just beyond the temple grounds stand the monks’ living quarters, where they sleep, chant at dawn, and carry out the quiet rhythms of their day.Though closed to visitors, these spaces offer a quiet peek into a monk’s daily life-early chants, worn prayer beads, and the steady rhythm of spiritual discipline unfolding out of sight.Scattered across the temple grounds, you’ll find small prayer rooms and quiet meditation spaces, some with the faint scent of sandalwood in the air.You can step softly into these spaces to watch a meditation in progress or just sink into the still, sunlit quiet.You might spot people sitting quietly in meditation beneath clusters of trees, the air still and cool, creating a peaceful space for your own reflection.At Jogyesa Temple, you’ll often find spiritual programs and activities welcoming both locals and visitors, from quiet meditation circles to lively lantern-making workshops.These may include meditation retreats, where visitors join short programs-sometimes just a few quiet mornings-to experience the basics of Zen meditation (Seon).Temple Stay: This program welcomes anyone curious about living like a Buddhist monk, from greeting the day with dawn chants to joining quiet meditation and shared temple chores.Buddhist Ceremonies and Festivals: All year long, the temple comes alive with events like the Lotus Lantern Festival, where hundreds of glowing lanterns float into the night sky, and joyful gatherings for Buddha’s Birthday.Lotus Lanterns and Decorations: On special days like Buddha’s Birthday-held on the 8th day of the 4th month in the lunar calendar-the temple glows with thousands of bright, colorful lotus lanterns swaying in the breeze.These lanterns carry the glow of wisdom, like a warm flame in the dark, and honor the Buddha’s enlightenment.Lantern light spills across the glowing temple, a sight that stops you in your tracks, and guests can join the joy by crafting a lantern of their own.Jogyesa’s grounds are a calm retreat, with neat stone paths winding past a quiet garden and tall trees whose leaves stir softly in the breeze.Visitors wander the grounds, breathing in the quiet, or pause on a sun-warmed bench lost in thought.As the heart of the Jogye Order, Jogyesa Temple shapes the spiritual lives of Korean Buddhists, guiding the practice and passing down the quiet discipline of Zen Buddhism through generations.Buddhist monks gather at the temple each day to perform rituals and ceremonies, the scent of incense curling through the air, and it serves as a welcoming center for spiritual growth for both devoted practitioners and curious visitors.The best time to visit Jogyesa Temple is during Buddha’s Birthday (Seokga Tansinil), usually in April or May by the lunar calendar, when the grounds glow with hundreds of colorful lotus lanterns and the air hums with music, chants, and special ceremonies.October’s a wonderful time to visit-the hills around the temple glow with red and gold leaves, deepening its calm, quiet beauty.Spring’s a great time to visit-warm air, soft light, and the temple’s gardens bursting with fresh blossoms.The simplest way to get to Jogyesa Temple is to hop on Seoul’s Orange Line 3 and ride to Anguk Station-step out at Exit 6, and you’ll be just a short walk away.From there, it’s only a short walk to the temple, past the stone steps warm from the afternoon sun.
